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“ Guess yeou air mistook in yeour man this time, mister." 

(.Page 12) 



> I 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS 

OR 


RAGGED BOB’S 
YOUNG REPUBLIC 


BY 


VICTOR ST. CliAIR i ■: 


ILLUSTRATED 


“.Here’s a hand to the boy who has courage 
To do what he knows to be right. 

When he falls in the way of temptation 
He has a hard battle to fight. 

Who strives against self and his comrades 
Will find a most powerful foe. 

All honor to him if he conquers, 

A cheer to the boy who does .so.” 

— Phoebe Cary. 


AKRON, OHIO 

The SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO. 

NEW YORK J903 CHICAGO 







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THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Copies Received 

OCT 1 1903 

Copyright Entry 

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Copyright, 1903 


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SAi^FiEl^D PUBWSHING COMPANY. 





MAOe BY 

THE VYERNER COMPANY 
AKRON, OHIO 


PREFACE. 

About twenty years ago I had occasion to find my way into 
that lonely and isolated district known then by the name of 
“Break o’ Day.” It was late in the afternoon when I had 
completed my steady six-mile ascent through an unbroken 
forest on foot, and with every prospect of a rainy night, the 
scene which met my gaze at the summit was the most dreary 
landscape I ever saw. It had been recently inhabited, if such 
a life deserves this dignity, by a party of coal-burners, who 
had quickly departed with the felling of the last of the growth 
of trees. The dozen or more of sod cabins that they had occu- 
pied during their transient stay in this region were already 
falling to decay, except one that still gave shelter to the last 
of these poor people, himself too poor or lazy to get away. 

Through a rift in the bushes I discovered the weather- 
beaten walls of the only frame dwelling within many miles of 
the spot, owned and occupied at that time by a man and wom- 
an who were outcasts of good society. Despite this fact, of 
which I had been forewarned, under the circumstances, I was 
glad to seek shelter here in the old red house reputed to be 
haunted. Upon reaching the old building, which did not im- 
prove in appearance upon closer inspection, I knocked loudly 
at the front door for admission, stepping back as I did for 
fear it would fall upon me. Repeating my summons and get- 
ting no response, I walked around to the other side, thinking 
my thumping had not been heard. The rear door was open, 
but I could hear no one moving about inside, while no one 
came to meet me. Concluding that the people must be away 
from home, and that I would have to look elsewhere, I turned 
away, though I did return to the front door, pounding louder 
than before for some one to reply. But my demands met 
with no kind of a response, and I gave up. Then the picture 
of utter loneliness presented by the surrounding country, and 
the gloom of the setting sun sinking behind a mass of inky- 
black clouds, caused me to go back to the rear door once more 
before seeking the shelter of the sod-cabin in plain sight on 
the hillside. 

I was passing around the corner of the house again, whep I 
was startled to find myself suddenly and unexpectedly con- 
fronted by what seemed to be a living prototype of that un- 


canny being which had been described to me in my youth as 
the “witch of Endor.” Her shrill voice pitched to a high key, 
she fairly screamed in my ear: 

“Hi! ye go one way; I go t’other!” 

I soon learned that while I had been making my way back 
and forth at the east end of the house, she had been perform- 
ing a corresponding series of journeys at the other end, the 
front door not being so it could be opened. Upon telling her 
that I was seeking a night’s lodging, she replied brusquely: 

“Dunno ! ’t ’ll be ’s th’ ol’ man says. He’s up to th’ barn.” 

Thither I started, but was saved a part of the distance by 
soon coming in sight of a large, slip-shod figure perched on a 
high stone wall, with arms bent over a pair of sharp knees, 
and a pair of huge bare feet upturned so as to nearly conceal 
the big, shaggy head in the background. This “son of the 
soil” seemed to be fully engaged in watching the gyrations of 
the big toes and the approach of the distant thunder-cloud, 
which was not darker than the great organs of locomotion 
standing out there in the gathering shades of night, as they 
appear to me now, like the wings of a monstrous bat. In 
answer to my question he replied in almost the same words I 
had just heard: 

“Dunno! ’t ’ll be jess ’s th’ ol’ woman says.” 

So it was settled, and I passed under that shaky old roof a 
more comfortable night than I had expected. In the morning, 
which came as clear and beautiful as that which dawned upon 
the forlorn colonists of the sod-cabins, as described farther 
on, I gladly bade my host and hostess what was to prove my 
farewell. 

A more recent visit, after the passage of many years, was 
made to Break o’ Day behind a pair of light-footed horses, 
that did not seem to mind the tedious climb to the summit, 
when a beautiful and remarkable transformation in the scene 
from that I had last known burst upon my vision. Where 
before had been acres of waste land, covered with a dense 
shrubbery, were now cultivated fields and gardens ; the col- 
lection of rude sod-cabins of the coal-burners had disappeared 
and in their places stood the substantial and comfortable 
houses of a prosperous community; the darkness and desola- 
tion which had then existed had faded away before life and 
activity, comfort and happiness, peace and prosperity, for dur- 
ing the interval between my visits to this site, now known by 
the happier title of “Mount Delight,” had been founded under 
such adverse circumstances as must have disheartened a less 
courageous founder of RAGGED ROB’S YOUNG REPUB- 


ViCTOR St. Clair. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


Chapter. p^gg, 

1. The Bootblack, the Countryman, and 

THE City Knaves 9 

11. A Boy to the Rescue 18 

TIL An Astounding Proposition 29 

IV. A Bold Stand 37 

V. Surprise upon Surprise 46 

VI. How THE News Was Carried to Basinburg 57 

VII. The Deacon Explains and the ’Squire 

Objects 69- 

VIII. Rob Stands His Ground 81 

IX. A Startling Surprise 88 

X. ’Squire Hardy Outwitted 96 

XI. A Crowd Against Three Boys *104 

XII. Little Hickory Aroused 112 

XIII. An Unexpected Champion 120 

XIV. A Written Notice 128 

XV. Defying a Tiger 136 

XVI. A Tussle with a Tiger 144 

XVH. A Friendly Caller 152 

XVIH. The Rebellion at Break o’ Day .... 160 

XIX. A Fight to the Finish 170 

XX. Waylaid 178 

XXL A Startling Predicament 186 

XXII. A Fourth of July “Oration” 397 

XXIII. “Stop! That’s My Oration I” 205. 

XXIV. “Hide Me Somewhere.” 212 

XXV. Trials and Triumphs 220 

XXVI. From Bad to Worse 228 

XXVII. “It Never Rains but it Pours” 237 

XXVIII. The Skeleton in the Cellar 248 

XXIX. “I AM Gideon Bayne” 257 

XXX. Right Triumphs in the End . . . . ^ 263 





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ILLUSTRATIONS 


“Guess yeou air mistook in yeour man this time, 

mister ” Frontispiece 


The cry of the frightened boys and girls had suddenly 
aroused its rage 


68 




"Good,” exclaimed the spokesman of the twain, “ye . 

act like a sensible chap” 136 

What she now saw was a sight calculated to have sent 

a thrill of terror to the heart of a less brave gprl 204 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS 


CHAPTER I. 

THE BOOTBLACK, THE COUNTRYMAN, AND THE CITY 
KNAVES. 

srnim! I e’enamos’ feePs if I was lost, 
though there do seem to be plenty o^ folks 
^round. ^ ’ 

Black yer boots and make ^em shine; only 
cost yer half a dime!’^ cried a cheery voice at 
the speaker ^s elbow, and, looking down, the tall 
man was surprised to see a specimen of boyhood 
quite unknown to him. The features were regu- 
lar enough, and would have been quite handsome 
had it not been for big patches of shoe blacking 
smeared over cheek and brow. Blue eyes peered 
out from the dark stains around them with a 
roguish twinkle, and there was a certain fearless 
independence in his looks and attitude which 
could not fail to show the most casual observer 


9 


10 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


the fearlessness and self-reliance of his nature. 
It was his clothes, his general deportment, the 
air of cool contempt for everything and every- 
body around him which caused the stranger 
fresh from the country to stare upon the boot- 
black of the great city with speechless wonder. 

‘‘When yer eyes git tired o’ looking, mister, 
perhaps ye’ll give yer tongue a chance,” said 
the young knight of the blacking brush, begin- 
ning to remove from his shoulder the ever- 
handy kit of his trade. ‘ ‘ Better hev yer brogans 
shined up, mister ; they need it bad. ’ ’ 

The reply of the man showed that something 
of greater moment to him at that time than his 
personal appearance was uppermost in his mind. 

“Say, bub, can yeou tell me where there’s a 
good tavern that a chap could stop at till to-mor- 
row ! ’ ’ 

“Sold ag’in. Ragged Rob!” cried one of half 
a dozen companions of his ilk, who had quickly 
appeared upon the scene from all quarters. 
“When ye git through with th’ old hayseed, 
s ’posin’ ye got er job, ye might as well go out 
o’ bizness, fer ye won’t hev blackin’ ’nough left 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


11 


to tip a gent^s boot. So long,’’ and the crowd 
began to beat a hasty retreat to look for work 
in a more favorable direction. 

^‘Get a move on you, old mossback, or the 
cops’ll haul you in for obstructing the side- 
walks!” muttered a beetle-browed passer-by, 
who emphasized his words with a push which 
nearly sent the countryman reeling into the 
gutter. 

‘‘Geewhillikins, heow th’ folks do crowd! 
Beats all natur’. What’s thet yeou say, bub?” 

‘ ‘ I say ye might find sich a stable as ye want 
by lookin’ in th’ right hand corner. Luck to ye 
anyway,” and the bootblack was speedily lost 
in the crowd. 

^^Drat th’ leetle feller’s pictur’ ! If I had my 
thumb an’ finger on him I’d pinch his throat for 
answerin’ a civil question in that oncivil way.” 

What’s that you said, friend?” asked a man 
who had come hurrying toward him from out 
of the throng of people passing to and fro. 
‘ ^ Why, can this be possible ? ’ ’ continued the new- 
comer, slapping him on the shoulder in a fami- 
liar manner. ^‘By jove! this is the pleasantest 


12 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


surprise of my life. Have you just come to 
New York, Mr. ReyburnbrookT’ 

By this time the man from the country was 
able to get a fair view of the speaker, who was a 
tall, genteel, well-dressed person of middle life, 
and he said: 

‘‘Guess yeou air mistook in yeour man this 
time, mister. I ain’t no sich name as Bumbrook 
at all. I’m jess plain Elihu Cornhill, deacon o’ 
th’ church at Basinburg, where I wish I was this 
blessed minnit. Th’ things an’ folks air so tar- 
nal thick round here one can’t draw a long 
breath, an’—” 

“Excuse me. Deacon Cornhill,” interrupted 
the other. “I can see my mistake now, and I 
offer a thousand apologies for troubling you. 
Do you know you look as near like a friend of 
mine as a pea in the same pod. Good day. ’ ’ 

“It’s funny queer,” exclaimed the bewildered 
Deacon Cornhill, “folks air in sich a pesky 
hurry they can’t stop to put one on his right 
track. I s’pose I must keep joggin’, ’s if I was 
over in th’ back lot lookin’ fer th’ caows.” 

Meanwhile, the man who had left him so 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


13 


abruptly after accosting him, had sought an- 
other person a short distance away, and who had 
evidently been waiting for him. Together the 
couple hastily examined a condensed New Eng- 
land directory, which the former produced from 
his pocket. After a hurried consultation, they 
separated, one going at right angles to the street 
followed by the unsuspecting countryman, while 
the other gave him pursuit. 

Finding that the crowd of passers-by jostled 
him, making his advance somewhat difficult, as 
he hastened on his way. Deacon Cornhill gath- 
ered his huge gripsack close up under his right 
arm, pulled his hat down firmly upon his large 
head, and kept stubbornly on his way, regardless 
of the elbowing and pushing of others, saying 
under his breath : 

‘‘Puts me in mind o’ go in’ through ’Squire 
Danvers’ bush lot, but I calc ’late I can stand it 
if they can.” 

Hp soon reached a corner where, if the pe- 
destrians were less numerous, he was more than 
ever perplexed over the course for him to fol- 
low. On every hand the tumult of street traffic 


14 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


and the noise and confusion of city life bewild- 
ered him. As he stood there for a moment, look- 
ing anxiously about him, the sound of loud, 
angry voices arrested his attention, when he saw 
a party of small boys disputing and wrangling 
over some mooted question. Then one of the 
group broke suddenly away from the others and 
fled, with two in furious pursuit. Looking back 
over his shoulder as he ran the fugitive did not 
seem to pay any heed to the course he was tak- 
ing, and in spite of the deacon’s warning he 
struck him with such force that the startled man 
was hurled upon the sidewalk. The boy fell on 
top of him, and the next moment the foremost 
of his pursuers cried : 

<<IVe got ye, Slimmy! Say ye lied, or I’ll 
knock th’ teeth out ’n yer jaw!” 

‘‘Not fer Joe 1” retorted the doughty fugitive, 
regaining his feet to be pulled back upon the 
ground the following instant. 

“Won’t, won’t ye, ye sneak-eyed— oh. I’ll 
wallop it inter—” 

He had begun to pommel his victim unmerci- 
fully, while his companions urged him on with 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


15 


words of encouragement. This was more than 
kind-hearted Deacon Cornhill, who had regained 
his feet, could witness without interfering, and, 
dropping his gripsack on the sidewalk, in order 
to have his hands free, he went to the rescue of 
the smaller boy, exclaiming : 

‘^Let him alone, yeou ragmuffin!’’ trying at 
the same time to catch the aggressive youngster 
by the collar. But the boy easily slipped from 
his grasp, and ran down a cross street, followed 
by his friends, the party giving utterance to 
peals of laughter. In his great indignation. 
Deacon Cornhill started to give them chase, but 
4 fter going a few steps thought better of his 
foolishness and turned back. He was just in 
season to see the boy he had been defending 
dodging around the corner with his gripsack! 

^‘Here, stop, yeou thief! Catch him, some- 
body; he’s makin’ off with my satchel,” giving 
the young thief pursuit as he uttered his frantic 
cries. 

The light-footed boy quickly disappeared 
around a street corner, and when the irate dea- 
con reached the place he was not to be seen. He 


16 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


had now left the main street, so that but a few 
people were in sight, no one of these paying any 
heed to his distracted cries. 

‘‘Oh, Lord! what shall I do! All my spare 
clothes, my shirt, an’ a good hunk o’ th’ church 
money gone! What will th’ folks say! WTiat 
shall I do!” 

Bewildered and disheartened, the strong man 
stood trembling from head to foot while he wept 
like a child, as a stranger stepped in front of 
him, saying in a free and easy manner, while 
he laid a hand on his shoiilder : 

“Hilloa, deacon! You are the last man I 
should have expected to meet, and here I find 
you in the heart of the big city. WTiat can you 
be doing here ! I do not see that you have aged 
a bit since I saw you at your home in Basinburg 
four years ago. Four years did I say! Bless 
me if it hasn’t been seven, or will be the coming 
summer. How is your good wife, and all the 
folks about the good old town!” 

Then, seeing the look of blank astonishment 
on the other’s fiorid countenance, he rattled on 
in a different strain : 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


17 


it possible you do not remember me, 
Deacon Cornbill! It would be perfectly natural 
if you didn^t, seeing I have changed consider- 
able since we last met. Knocking about the 
world, my good deacon, does put age-lines on 
one’s face, let them differ who will. Let me re- 
fresh a memory which is seldom at fault. Re- 
member Harry Sawyer, a nephew of your town 
clerk, John Sawyer, who has held the office so 
many years? Recall the scapegrace? I am 
glad he has improved with age. Recollect the 
race we had one afternoon running after the 
steers that tore down the fence and plundered a 
neighbor’s cornfield? I finally caught one of 
the rampant creatures, after the rest of you had 
cornered him. He ripped my coat from hem to 
collar, and I barely escaped being gored to 
death. That catches your memory? Such little 
incidents often live longer in one ’s mind than af- 
fairs of greater moment, but which somehow 
slipped away with the years. It does me good 
to grasp the horny hand of an honest man. Do 
not be afraid of mine suffering; if it is soft, it 
is tough.” 


CHAPTER 11. 

A BOY TO THE EESCUE. 

While the voluble stranger who had intro- 
duced himself as ‘‘Harry Sawyer,’’ kept up his 
incessant flow of language, Deacon Cornhill was 
speechless. He saw that the speaker was a well- 
dressed young man, and, if his memory was at 
a loss to account for much that he said, the 
other’s professed friendship instantly won his 
confidence, which was the easier obtained owing 
to his recent trouble. 

‘ ‘ I have been robbed ! ” he exclaimed. ‘ ‘ I had 
money in my satchel, and a parcel o ’ boys come 
along an’ one o’ ’em stole my money, my clothes 
an’—” 

“Stole your money?” fairly gasped the other, 
in genuine concern. “Tell me about it— quick, 
before it is too late to recover it. ’ ’ 


18 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


19 


In a somewhat disjointed way Deacon Corn- 
hill explained how he had found a party of hoys 
in the midst of quarrel, how he had tried to help 
one who seemed to be the victim of the others, 
and how the very one he had tried to succor had 
stolen his property before his eyes. 

^^It was a sham fight— a dodge of those con- 
temptible youngsters to throw you off of your 
guard. And you were fool enough to let them 
accomplish their purpose!’’ turning to leave 
the unfortunate countryman in undisguised dis- 
gust. 

Don’t leave me here alone, mister— Mister 
Sawyer. They didn’t git all my money, but my 
shirt and my — ’ ^ 

‘^Then you have some of your money left!” 
catching him by the arm with a hold which made 
the strong man wince. ‘ ‘ How much did the rap- 
scallions leave!” 

‘^Ninety dollars.” 

‘IHow much did they get!” 

‘ ‘ Thirty dollars. Y eou ’re hurtin ’ my arm like 
time, mister, th’ way yeou grip.” 


20 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


‘^Excuse me, deacon; I was so excited over 
yonr loss that I forgot myself. But go on. You 
have ninety dollars left 1 ’ ’ 

‘Mess that, ’cordin’ to my an’ Mandy’s count 
afore I left home. Yeou see I come down here 
to buy for our Sunday school library some books, 
an’ I was to git some new things fer Mandy, an’ 
she and me ’lowed it’d be better to keep the 
money in separate places, though I was shallow 
enough to put ten o’ th’ church money in my 
satchel. Yeou see my wallet was that crowded 
I couldn’t do much different. Now that has 
gone, with Mandy’s new things and my shirt 
and—” 

“Let me tell you, deacon, you were fortunate 
to save as much as you have. Always carry 
your money in your pocket.” 

“We must find th’ pesky boys afore they hev 
time to spend it,” declared the deacon, whose 
countenance brightened somewhat at the stran- 
ger’s words. 

“It would be as well to look for a needle in a 
haystack, deacon, as to look for a boy in New 
York; especially if that boy happens to be a 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


21 


thief, as most of them are. But come with me, 
Deacon Cornhill, and to-morrow I will see what 
can be done.’’ 

“Do yeou think yeou can git my money back, 
and my shirt—” 

“Quite sure of it, deacon. I will put half a 
dozen detectives on their tracks, who will run 
them to earth as so many hounds would some 
foxes.. I don’t like to mention such personal 
matters, but it was lucky for you I came along 
as I did.” 

“I know it, I know it,” replied the other, who 
was in better spirits now he felt there was a 
prospect of getting his gripsack, with its con- 
tents, again into his possession. “To think ’em 
boys should hev played sich a mean trick on 
me.” 

“Learned their trade young, deacon. Come 
with me to-night. Nothing can be gained by fol- 
lowing, or rather trying to follow, those slip- 
pery young thieves. The police will know just 
where to look for them.” 

Keeping up a continual flow of words, he who 
called himself Harry Sawyer led the way along 


22 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


street after street, each one as they advanced 
seeming to grow more narrow and crooked. Be- 
wildered as he was by his adventures, Deacon 
Cornhill finally became aware of this. There 
was an unfavorable appearance about every- 
thing he saw, and he began to feel there was 
something wrong. 

‘^Hold on, mister— I have forgotten yeour 
name— air yeou sure yeouYe on th’ right road? 
This looks pesky narrer and’—’’ 

In the midst of his speech he saw another man 
come swiftly out of the dark alley on his left, 
and he caught sight of a goblet flying toward 
him. Then the missile struck him on the side 
of his head, and he fell to the pavement with a 
low moan of pain. 

‘^Well done. Bill,” declared Sawyer to the 
new-comer. ^^Now I will pull the old sheep’s 
wool in a trice, after which we must run down 
the precocious youngsters who have cheated us 
of a good share of our goods.” 

The process of “pulling the old sheep’s wool” 
was evidently the stealing of the unconscious '^ 
man’s pocket-book, for the speaker began to 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


23 


rifle him of whatever he carried of value. But 
he was interrupted in a most unexpected man- 
ner. At the very moment his fingers closed on 
the well-filled wallet, an agile figure bounded 
out of the shadows of the alley, striking the 
stooping form of the robber with such force as 
to send him headlong into the gutter, the new- 
comer crying at the same time : 

‘ ^ The cop ! The cop ! ’ ’ 

This so startled the second ruffian that he 
turned and fled, and his accomplice scrambled 
to his feet in season to see the boy, who had 
given him such a blow, seize the plethoric 
pocket-book and disappear around a corner. 

‘‘Stop thief!’’ cried the would-be robber. 
‘ ‘ Bill, where are you ? Stop the youngster 1 ’ ’ 

The twain then gave furious pursuit. 

While this chase was taking place, a passer-by 
was attracted by the prostrate figure of Deacon 
Cornhill, and thinking murder had been com- 
mitted, he was about to give an alarm, when a 
voice at his elbow said : 

“Don’t stir a noise, Jim.” 

Looking abruptly around the man saw with 


24 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


surprise the young bootblack, whom Deacon 
Cornhill had met at the out-set of his troubles, 
and who was none other than the boy who had 
snatched the pocket-book away from the thief. 
He had found little difficulty in eluding hifi pur- 
suers. 

<<>Twon’t do any good to get a mob here. 
I’ll look after the old gent, if you’ll help me git 
him to Brattle’s.” 

^^This you, Rob!” 

reckon, Jim. Does the old gent show any 
signs of picking up the leetle sense he had!” and 
depositing his kit of tools beside the other’s 
gripsack on the sidewalk, he looked closely into 
his face. 

^‘’Twas a hard blow the -sand-bagger give 
him. I could not have got here— hillo! he’s 
starting his breathing machine. He’s soon go- 
ing to get on his feet. So ’ll the mob soon begin 
to corner here. Lend a hand, Jim, we’ll see if 
we can get him away. ’ ’ 

Excited spectators were already beginhing to 
gather about the spot, and the unfortunate man 
beginning to open his eyes, his friends raised 


BEEAKO^DAY BOYS. 


25 


him to an upright position, where, by their aid, 
he was able to remain. 

‘‘Mandy, where air youT’ he asked, putting 
out his hands. ‘ ' I vum ! I b ’lieve I 'm lost ! ’ ’ 

^‘Lean on me, old gent,’’ said the boy, ^‘and 
you’ll soon be where ye can ask as many ques- 
tions as ye want to. Just now the least said the 
less there ’ll he to f ergit. I wouldn ’t advise you 
to call all New York together just to see what a 
simpleton you can be when you set out. Easy on 
his collar, Jim; lean on me, old gent, as much 
as you wanter.” 

^ ‘ My money ! ’ ’ exclaimed the bewildered man, 
now recalling his loss. 

it’s in your wallet it’s safe, for I’ve got 
that and your handbag safe and sound.” 

Deacon Cornhill uttered a low thanksgiving, 
and assisted by the two he moved slowly down 
the street, until they came to a cheap lodging 
house, with the single word over the weather- 
beaten door: 

‘‘BRATTLE.” 

The entrance was about three feet below the 
sidewalk, and as they descended the old steps 


26 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


they trembled beneath their united weight. At 
their foot Rob opened a door in keeping with its 
rusty surroundings, and the three entered a 
dingy, low-walled apartment, with a desk at the 
further end and a row of seats around the walls. 

‘‘You can go now, Jim,” said the young boot- 
black. 

“That you. Little Hickory?” asked a man be- 
hind the desk, leaving his high stool and coming 
out into the middle of the floor. 

‘ ‘ I leave it with you to say. Brattle. A body, 
as far as I know, is not obliged to carry an in- 
troduce card pasted to his collar. I can take 
care of the old gent, thank you. ” 

“Been drinking,, eh?” asked Brattle. 

“Now you insult a good man, Brattle. He’s 
got a clip on the side of the head from some 
sand-baggers, that’s all. He’s coming round as 
slick as a button. You can tip over on the bench, 
old gent, if you wanter.” 

Deacon Cornhill rallied enough to ask again 
about his money, when Rob replied: 

“What I said you can bank on, as the big 
boodlers say. I reckon you don’t remember me, 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


27 


so I must introduce myself. I^m the chap who 
asked to black your boots a spell ago, and I^m 
variously called. Sometimes it^s plain ‘Rob,’ and 
sometimes gents put the frills on by calling me 
‘ Ragged Rob. ’ Some calls me ‘ Little Hickory, ’ 
and some dub me ‘ Snowball, ’ and others ‘ Black- 
ball,’ and I leave it to you which is nighest right. 
But that don’t count here now, and you can pay 
your money and take your choice. Mebbe I 
didn’t answer you as I oughter, when you axed 
me for a place to hang your hat for the night. 
But your boots did need shining and trimming 
the wuss kind, and I set you down as a stingy 
old dutfer from Wayback, who didn’t know 
what made a gentleman. Then, when you had 
gone, and I took ’count of stock and balanced up 
what a lamb you’d be for the wolves, and see- 
ing one of the critters following you I tuk your 
tracks too. I got erlong in season to see the kids 
make otf with your grip, when I took arter ’em 
tooth and nail. With some lively sprinting, and 
a bit of scrimmage, I got your old gripsack out’n 
Sodom, when I pegged back on your track ag’in. 
I didn’t get erlong in season to save you that 


28 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


clip on the head, but I did get there in time to 
play the thief myself. I led ’em chaps a wild 
race, and here I am with the hull establishment, 
connected, wired and running in tip-top shape. ’ ’ 
As the youth, who could not have been more 
than seventeen, despite his daring feats, had fin- 
ished his rather lengthy explanation, he handed 
Deacon Cornhill his pocket-hook and pushed his 
gripsack over by his side. 


CHAPTER III. 


AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION. 

Deacon Cornhill listened with, unfeigned 
amazement to the rapid account of his young 
benefactor until he had concluded, when he 
managed to say : 

donT know what is proper to say to yeou, 
bub. YeouVe done me a sarvice I shall never 
forgit, if I live to be as old as Methusaleh; I 
shan’t, I vum, I shan’t. I want to pay yeou for 
it. Who’d thought ’em slick seemin’ men were 
sich cut-throats?” 

Black yer boots an’ make ’em shine? I ain’t 
no time to waste in perlaver. They need it. 
Time’s money, and bizness must be ’tended to 
afore pleasure.” 

‘‘Go ahead,” consented the deacon, putting 
out his right foot for the bootblack to begin 
work. Then, as the boy went about his task in 

29 


30 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


a manner which showed that he had thoroughly 
mastered it, he asked : 

‘‘What’d yeou say your name was!” 

“Poor memory,” said the other, as he spat 
on the blacking and then began to rub vigor- 
ously. “You may call me Little Hickory.” 

“Yeou don’t say. Can’t be yeour regular 
Scripture name!” 

“ ’Bout as near as any I’ve got. Deacon Corn- 
hill.” 

“Bless me, how did yeou know my name!” 

“Overheard you give it to the sharper. Oh, 
my! ain’t yer underpinners in bad shape. 
Can’t get a Broadway shine on ’em to save my 
reputation. ’ ’ 

“Yeou ain’t told me yeour name yet,” per- 
sisted Deacon Cornhill, who had taken a strong 
liking for the strange y^uth. “And why do 
yeou call yeourself old! It’s a sin an’ a shame, 
o’ which yeou must repent sometime in sack 
cloth an ’ ashes. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I know as leetle of your sack cloth and ashes, 
mister, as you know of me. Reckon I was older 
when I was born than many are when they die. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


31 


I thought it proper for to give you th’ name that 
h ’longs to me where you found me. Mother calls 
me Rob.” 

^ ‘ That sounds more Christian like. Robert is 
a good old family name. What name did yeour 
father hev?” 

couldn’t begin to tell ’em, mister— I mean, 
deacon. I reckon he’s had a good round dozen, 
first and last. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Sho ! but yeou don ’t mean it. Where is he ? ” 

‘ ^ Dunno. ’ ’ 

‘‘What! don’t know where yeour father is? 
How long hev yeou lived this harum-scarum 
life?” 

“As long as I can remember, and I rackon 
’bout three years longer. Push out that foot a 
leetle furder.” 

“And yeou like it?” 

“Don’t know any other, deacon.” 

The good man from Basinburg groaned, say- 
ing after a minute : 

“It’s too bad— too bad! Yeou seem like a 
proper sort o’ a boy, an’ with th’ right kind of 
management might be somebody.” 


32 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


''I shouldn't want to bank on your judgment, 
squire, I mean deacon, seeing the way you let 
'em sharpers pull the wool over your eyes. ' ' 

Deacon Cornhill relapsed into silence, while 
he watched the swift, dexterous movements of 
the cheerful bootblack, who began to sing a 
snatch of song. He was one of those broad- 
minded, whole-souled men who never see an- 
other in lowly circumstances without wanting 
to lift him up. The frank honesty of Little 
Hickory, as the hoy persisted in being known, 
had won his confidence, and to have done that 
was to insure a friendship not to he swerved 
from its purpose. A new lights came over his 
florid countenance, as he pondered, until, for- 
getting him at his work, he sprang suddenly to 
his feet, exclaiming: 

‘H'll do it!" 

Though taken completely by surprise at this 
frantic action, Rob caught him by the wrist, and 
with a strength one would not have looked for 
in the youthful arm, he flung him back upon the 
bench, crying sharply : 

“No, ye don't till I git that other schooner 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


33 


into trim. You’d look well, wouldn’t ou, with 
’em in sich shape ? ’ ’ 

< < Forgive me, my son. ’ ’ 

‘‘My son! Forsooth, as the play actor says. 
None of your softsolder on me. All I ask is for 
ye to keep still till I can put the polish on this 
other brogan.” 

It is needless to say that Deacon Cornhill 
obeyed, and not until the young workman was 
done did he say : 

“I don’t exactly git th’ hang o’ yeou, my deii 
boy — ” 

‘ ‘ Hold right on there, deacon. If you hev got 
anything to say to me, leave off the finery, and 
cut the garment plain. I ain’t much on soap, 
but I’m honest clear through. Go ahead with 
your tongue motions, if you begin to see the 
track. ’ ’ 

“Rob,” resumed the other, recalling the fact 
that the boy had given at least so much of his 
name, “I ain’t goin’ to perlaver either. I want 
yeou to go hum with me.” 

Little Hickory showed his surprise without 
speaking. 


34 


BEEAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


‘ ‘ I ’m in dead ’arnest. Mandy an ’ I hev talked 
this over time an’ ag’in. We ain’t got chick nor 
child, an’ she was sayin’ only yesterday how 
cheerin’ it would be to hev a boy ’bout th’ house. 
I ain’t rich as some air, but I’m comfortably 
fixed, an’ what I’ve got shall be yeours, as soon 
as I’m through with it. Yeou shall hev my name, 
too, an’ be Elihu Cornhill, Jr.” 

Eob still was too much surprised to speak, 
which allowed Deacon Cornhill to continue: 

‘Mt would be th’ makin’ o’ yeou, Eobert. It 
would get yeou away from th’ wickedness o’ this 
sinful city, an’ — ” 

^ ‘ And away from my bizness. ’ ’ ' 

‘‘Buddy )me! yeou don’t call this blackin’ 
folks’ sho^s an’ boots bizness!” 

“I get a living by it, sir,” said the youthful 
speaker, with a pride one in better circum- 
stances might have failed to display. 

“But yeou would make a better an’ more 
honorable—” 

“Hold right on. Deacon Cornhill. I reckon 
honesty is honorable anywhere. I should be like 
a fish out ’n water up there in yer wilderness. ’ ’ 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


35 


^‘But out 0 ^ this wilderness o’ wickedness. 
There yeou could go to Sunday school, an’ be 
up in society. Yeou hev got the makin’ o’ a 
smart boy in yeou. Yeou hev done me a great 
help, an’ I’ve taken a fancy to yeou. I’ll get 
yeou a new suit o’ clothes, an’ yeou ’ll look as 
slick as a mouse. Then, as soon as I can finish 
my bizness, we’ll go hum an’ s ’prise Mandy. 
Hum! how does that sound to yeou, Robert?” 

If at first Little Hickory had thought that 
Deacon Cornhill was not in earnest, he could 
see now that he was thoroughly determined in 
what he said. But he had no idea of accepting 
an offer made with so much abruptness, so he 
said : 

‘Hf I could leave my bizness. which I ain’t 
owned up to yet, I couldn’t leave my mother.” 

Deacon Cornhill showed by his looks that this 
was a contingency he had not taken into account. 

‘^So yeour mother is livin’, Robert?” 

‘‘She was when I left home this morning.” 

“She can come along, too. She’ll be help for 
Mandy. I vow, it’ll be all the better for yeou 
to hev her with us. ’ ’ 


36 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


‘^And my friends T’ asked Rob, showing by 
his manner that he was becoming interested. 
‘‘I hev ’em as I can’t leave.” 

Before Deacon Cornhill could reply, the sound 
of many feet was heard entering the place, and 
a body of men quickly appeared on the scene. 
The foremost was a burly, bewhiskered fellow, 
who at sight of our couple cried exultantly: 
^‘Here he is, boys! Nab him.” 


CHAPTER IV. 

A BOLD STAND. 

At sight of the crowd Deacon Cornhill uttered 
a cry of fear, and looked hurriedly about for 
some way of escape. But the room had only 
one door opening on the street, and that was 
now blocked by the incoming men, the leader of 
whom showed a bright button on his coat, while 
he exhibited a warlike spirit that to an outsider 
should have aroused feeling of exaggeration as 
much as fear. 

The owner of the place, however, showed only 
the latter sentiment, as, with a cry of terror, he 
ducked his head down behind the counter, while 
the clinking of breaking glass followed his dis- 
appearance, a big pitcher having been upset and 
sent rolling to the floor. 

‘AVho are you looking for, Whalen!” 

37 


38 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


‘ ‘ That chap behind ye. ’ ’ 

^‘Name him and ye may have him, bnt not till 
ye do,’’ retorted the bootblack, falling into the 
language of the uneducated as he boldly met the 
gaze of the officer. 

reckon names don’t matter when we’ve run 
er covey down. ’ ’ 

^‘It does in this case. This ain’t the man ye 
are after, Whalen!” 

^AVhat d’ye know erbout him. Hickory?” 

^‘All there is to know, Whalen. Can’t ye see 
this is a hayseed from the counti*y? Your man 
is a thoroughbred. Oh, I know who ye are 
after.” ] 

‘H reckon a man’s a man,” muttered the of- 
ficer, who appeared as if he had seen his mis- 
take, but disliked to own up to it. 

^‘Half an houl" ago your man was steering 
toward the Point, Wlialen. ’Pears to me, with 
sich a reward at stake, I wouldn’t lose any more 
time with sich an old duffer as this covey, who 
won’t be worth a cent to ye when ye hev run him 
in.” 

Whalen could see the truth of this statement, 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


39 


and he cleared his way for getting out by say- 
ing: 

^‘Ye ain’t giving me er blind, Hickory?” 

‘‘No, Whalen. And I advise ye to get onto 
the track- while the scent is fresh.” 

Without another word the officer turned 
about, and, still followed by his crowd, left the 
saloon. 

Deacon Cornhill stood staring after the de- 
parting officer and his men for some time in si- 
lence, while Rob resumed work on his shoes. 
Brattle’s head reappeared above the top of the 
counter, coming into sight slowly and with evi- 
dent caution on the part of the owner, as if he 
was in doubt about the wisdom and safety of the 
movement. 

“You haven’t answered my question,” said 
the bootblack, bringing Deacon Cornhill back to 
the real situation by his demand. “Can my 
friends go with me?” 

“Every one of ’em, sart’in,” replied the 
other, thus showing that he was equal to the oc- 
casion. Then he asked: “How many air 
there ? ’ ’ 


40 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


Rob shook his head, though it was evidently 
not in reply to the other’s question, but relative 
to some thought in his mind. Presently he said : 

‘‘You are very kind, sir, but it cannot be. 
This is my life, and I could not fit into another. 
Good day, sir,” picking up his kit to leave. 
Then, as if a second thought had come to him 
he paused, saying : , “ I ’ll not leave you in the 
gutter this time. If you wanter find a good 
stopping place for the night I’ll show you the 
way. ’ ’ 

Peeling that it would be useless to urge his 
plans further then. Deacon Cornhill followed 
himAp silence, glad to escape the foul atmos- 
phere of this retreat. Still he was resolved in 
his mind to renew the subject at the first favor- 
able opportunity. 

In the midst of their rapid advance he sud- 
denly became aware of the presence of another 
boy, though he had joined them in silence. He 
seemed five or six years younger than Rob. He 
was more ragged than the other ; in fact, he was 
little but rags, though there was a saucy defi- 
ance in his pinched, unwashed features which 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


41 


told that he had little care for his personal ap- 
pearance, or what another might think. Rob 
evidently knew him, for he asked, familiarly: 

^^What luck to-day, old man?” 

‘‘Made ’leven cents and hlowed in three. 
Say,” he added in an undertone, though loud 
enough to he heard by Deacon Cornhill, “got a 
big duck? Looks awful green.” 

“Hush!” warned Rob, adding in a louder 
key: “IVe got to see this gent here gets to 
Bradford’s 0. K. Then I’ll hev you go home 
with me.” 

“What’s yeour name, bub?” asked the dea- 
con, who felt in duty bound to say something. 

“Chick.” 

“I mean the name yeour folks give yeou.” 

“Golly! what an idee. Never had any, mis- 
ter.” 

“Where do you live?” 

“Nowhere.” 

‘ ‘ Onpossible. Where ’d yeou stop last night ? ’ ’ 

“Corner A and Tenth street.” 

“MHiose house, I mean. I hope it was a good 
man’s.” 


42 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


‘‘Dunno ’bout that, mister. I didn’t see him, 
nor I didn’t go in.” 

^^But yeou said yeou stopped there.” 

^^So I did.” 

^‘How could yeou if yeou didn’t go in?” 

^ ‘ My cracky, ain ’t ye green ? S ’pose I ’d gone 
in, how long d’ye s’pose I’d been guv to git 
out?” 

don’t understand 3^eou, bub.” 

‘‘No more do I sich a cabbage as ye. I reckon 
there’s a way o’ stoppin’ at a gentleman’s house 
without bodderin’ him wid yer comp’ny.” 

‘^‘How can that be?” asked the wondering 
deacon, beginning to think the boy was guying 
him. “How could 3'Ou stop at a man’s house 
without seein’ any one or they seein’ yeou?” 

“Slept under the covin’, mister.” 

“Marcy me! out in th’ night? S ’posin’ it’d 
rained?” 

“I’d got wet, I s’pose, seein’ I’m not canvas- 
backed,” with a grin. 

“An’ got yeour death o’ cold?” 

“Ain’t so sure on thet, mister. Th’ sun has 


BKEAKO’ DAY BOYS. 


43 


alwus dried a feller out slick, an’ I ain’t heerd 
o’ his goin’ out’n bizness yit. Hev ye?” 

Deacon Cornhill made no reply to this direct 
question, and his next inquiry was in a differ- 
ent direction. 

^‘What do yeou do. Chick? I think yeou had 
some sich onnatural name.” 

^‘Pick up odd jobs by which I can turn a 
penny, mister. My fambly is small, so I don’t 
hev to hev much to feed ’em. ’ ’ 

Ain’t yeou got any folks?” 

‘^Nope.” 

Don’t yeou git tired o’ livin’ like this?” 

Don’t know any other way, mister.” 

^^MHiat a pity. In this Christian land, too.” 

^^Got any more questions to ax, mister?” as 
the other hesitated; ‘‘cos if ye hev I shall hev 
to begin to ax ye a fee, same ’s the big chucks do 
up to th’ Recorder’s offis.” 

While Deacon Cornhill was pondering upon 
the new train of thought awakened by this 
chance meeting with the child of the street, they 
quite suddenly came upon a crowd of people 
gathered about the entrance to a gloomy struc- 


44 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


ture near at hand, while a confused medley of 
sounds came from the promiscuous collection. 

^‘What’s the matter asked Deacon Corn- 
hill, with surprise. 

‘‘Only a girl up for vagrancy,’^ replied a by- 
stander. “It don’t take much to draw a crowd. 
But she’s a pert one, and with a boy’s name.” 

“What is it?” asked Rob, beginning to show 
excitement. 

“ Joe Willet, or some sich a name, she give 
the Recorder.” 

^Without waiting for the slow-speaking 
-stranger to finish his sentence Rob began to el- 
bow his way through the jostling crowd, and a 
moment later passed the high portals of the wide 
door. 

“Here, here, my son!” cried the frightened 
deacon, excitedly, “wait for me,” and regard- 
less of the jeers and outbursts of the spectators, 
he made a furious dash in the footsteps of Little 
Hickory. 

“Hi, mister!” cried Little Chick, trying to 
keep beside the excited countryman, “keep with 
me and we ’ll find Hickory. ’ ’ Then he added to 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


45 


the amused onlookers: ''Of all the dratted fools 
he’s the lankiest!” 

Meanwhile Rob had got inside the building, 
and, regardless of the curious spectators gath- 
ered on either hand, pushed his way forward un- 
til he had reached a small court or opening be- 
fore a high desk, above which the gray head of 
the stern police justice could be seen, as he 
looked calmly down at a frail girl, trembling 
from head to foot, as she stood beside the iron 
railing in grief and terror. 

She was clad in a ragged dress, without any 
covering for her head. Though her features 
were bathed in tears, her brown hair had been 
cut short, and there was a general appearance 
of despair in her looks and actions, she was an 
attractive girl of possibly sixteen. 

At sight of her, Rob stopped suddenly in his 
impetuous advance, saying, in a voice heard in 
every part of the old building: 

"Joey, I have found you at last ! Have cour- 
age. Ragged Rob is still your friend, if every- 
body else in the world turns against you.” 


CHAPTER V. 


SUEPRISE UPON SURPRISE. 


At the sound of Rob’s ringing voice every 
gaze in the spacious room, even to that of the 
grim justice, was turned upon the fearless 
young bootblack, who, despite his grimy fea- 
tures and soiled, ragged clothes, looked every 
linch a hero. One countenance lightened at 
sight of him, and she at the prisoner ’s bar cried 
in a joyful tone: 

‘‘Oh, Rob!” and then she seemed about to 
fall, as if the opportune appearance of her 
friend had overcome her. But she quickly over- 
came her weakness, saying in a supplicating 
voice : 

“Save me from the workhouse, Rob. Mother 
does need me so.” 

‘ ‘ I will, J oey ; never fear. What is the 
charge, your honor!” 


46 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


47 


‘‘Vagrancy, coupled with trying to pass bad 
money and being generally a suspicious char- 
acter,^’ replied the justice. 

“There’s not a word of truth in it!” ex- 
claimed Bob, impetuously. 

‘ ‘ Order ! ’ ’ commanded the justice, and a burly 
officer moved towards the excited youth, ready 
to seize him at the word from his superior. A 
murmur of excitement ran over the throng of 
spectators 

“Has she been sentenced?” asked Eob, recov- 
ering his self-possession and speaking with a 
calmness he was far from feeling. 

“Blackwell’s— -thirty days,” was the stern 
reply. 

‘ ‘ It must not be ! ” declared Eob, boldly. ‘ ‘ She 
cannot be guilty. Mister Justice; there must be 
some mistake. Is there no way to save her from 
the workhouse, for she is needed at home, where 
she has a sick mother dependent upon her!” 

“As this seems to be her first offence, if there 
was some one to answer for her she might be 
let off this time, ’ ’ and though this may have been 
only his imagination, Eob thought the justice 


48 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


said this gladly. At any rate it gave him hope, 
and he said promptly: 

‘‘I will answer for her, Mister Justice.’^ 

‘ ‘ That conld not be done, as yon are but a 
minor, as well as unknown to us.’’ 

Rob’s countenance fell, but at that moment a 
loud voice from the rear of the court-room 
exclaimed : 

‘‘I’ll answer for her, judge! That gal must 
never go to th’ workhouse. It would be a burn- 
ing shame in this Christian age.” 

A buzz of surprise ran over the scene, while 
Deacon Cornhill, who had made the bold declar- 
ation, pushed his way forward to the side of the 
young bootblack. 

“It’s too bad to send sich an innercent child 
to th’ workhouse, judge. How much is there to 
pay?” 

“Who are you, sir?” demanded the justice, 
looking askance at the countrified speaker. 

“Deacon Elihu Cornhill, of Basinburg, yeour 
honor.” 

“And you promise she shall be provided for, 
Mr. Cornhill?” 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


49 


do, judge.’’ 

‘‘Very well. In that case sentence is sus- 
pended during good behavior. She is too young, 
and apparently too innocent, to be sent to the 
workhouse. But remember, miss, if you are 
brought hack here double sentence will be im- 
posed.” 

‘ ‘ Shameful, judge. Send sich a bright gal to 
the work—” 

“Silence!” ordered the justice, at the same 
time pushing a ponderous book toward the dis- 
comfited deacon. “Please put your name down 
there. ’ ’ 

As soon as Deacon Cornhill had signed the 
necessary document, and finding that she was 
free to do so, the young prisoner took Rob’s 
hand. Then, without further delay, while a gen- 
erous murmur of applause came from the crowd 
of spectators, the three left the court-room, find- 
ing Chick waiting for them at the door. 

“Where have you been, Joe, since that dread- 
ful night when the old rookery was torn down 
over our heads, and we lost each other I ’ ’ 

“Almost everywhere, Rob. I am so thankful 


50 


BEEAKO^DAY BOYS. 


now that you have saved me from the work- 
house that I cannot say anything.^’ 

‘‘It was not I, Joey, but this kind gentleman, 
Deacon Cornhill.” 

‘ ‘ I wish to thank you, sir. If you ’ll only come 
home I’m sure mother will do much better than 
I can. Poor mother! how she must have been 
worrying about me. ’ ’ 

“How is she, Joe?” 

“No better, Eob. And I have been away all 
day. You will go home with me?” 

“Yes, as soon as I have shown Mr. Cornhill 
to Bradford’s. 

“Don’t do that, my son. Go home with the 
gal first, and if she don’t object. I’ll go along 
with yeou.” 

“Mother will be glad to see you, sir, and I 
want you to go. How, you have grown, Eob, 
since I see you last. ’ ’ 

“No more than you have, J oe. Y ou are as tall 
as mother now, almost. But as we walk along 
you must tell us how you came to be brought 
before the justice. Chick, you’ll go with us.” 

“Well, you see, Eob,” began the girl, “mother 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


51 


has been so poorly for a week that I Ve neglected 
business. But today, seeing we had nothing in 
the house to eat, and no money, I had to start 
out in earnest. I seemed pretty lucky at once, 
for inside of an hour I met a fine old gent, who 
give me ten cents to carry his portmanteau 
three squares, and—’’ 

^‘The lazy bones!” interjected Deacon Corn- 
hill. “Do you mean to say, miss, the man let 
you carry his satchel alone?” 

“I was glad to have him, sir, for it meant din- 
ner for poor mother, and medicine, too.” 

“Isn’t your father livin’?” 

“No, sir; he died twelve years ago. And 
mother has been ill for four years.” 

“What do yeou do for a livin’?” 

‘ ‘ Sell flowers, papers, or do anything that will 
bring me a few cents. Sometimes I run errands, 
or carry gentlemen’s bundles.” 

The kind-hearted deacon groaned, while she 
resumed : 

“After I had parted with the old gent I found 
a flashy dressed young man, who wanted me to 
run an errand for him, and when I got back he 


52 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


give me a silver quarter. It seemed so much for 
him to pay for so little work that I wanted him 
to take my ten-cent piece, which he did. From 
that time until noon I earned only three cents, 
hut with my quarter I felt quite well pleased. 
So I thought to buy something real nice for 
mother and then go home. When I come to pay 
for the rolls and cake the man said the money 
was had. I could not believe it, and while I tried 
to explain to him how I had got it, he called the 
police, when I was taken to the justice’s court 
and there kept until you found me.” 

‘^The sinfulness o’ this sinful city!” ex- 
claimed the deacon. ‘Y\nd to think they were 
going to take yeou to th’ workshop.” 

‘ ‘ I wish to thank you again for your kindness, 
sir. You see, Rob and I used to be old cronies, 
but we have not seen each other for over two 
years. But here we are at home. How glad 
mother will he to see us. But, dear me! here 
I’ve not brought her a crumb to eat. How could 
I have forgotten it F ’ 

‘Hs it possible you live here, Joey! But go 
right in with Deacon Cornhill, while I go after 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


53 


sometliing for lier and you to eat. I will be back 
soon. Chick can shift for himself.” 

‘ ‘ Buy something good, ’ ’ said Deacon Cornhill, 
pulling out his pocketbook and handing Rob a 
live-doll ar bill, which, however, the latter made 
him exchange for one of a smaller denomination. 

If this honest countryman had learned to like 
bluff, hearty little Hickory, he was not less 
pleased with the brave-hearted girl, whose only 
name, as far as he yet learned, had that decid- 
edly masculine ring of Joe. 

^‘If th’ leetle gal is willin’ I’ll step in and see 
her mother.” 

‘‘Come’ right in, sir. But you must be pre- 
pared to find scanty room. Our house is so 
small, that is, narrow, our rooms are not more 
than three feet wide. Still, now we have got 
used to them, we get along quite comfortably.” 

Deacon Cornhill, by this time, was prepared 
to be surprised at nothing in New York, but this 
dwelling fairly staggered his senses. The en- 
tire width of this building , which was four sto- 
ries in height, was scarcely five feet outside 
measurement. Was it a wonder the man just 


54 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


from the country, where space is a matter of 
small consideration, was amazed at this pecu- 
liar structure, with its long apartments so nar- 
row he could barely turn around? It seemed 
that at some time the land upon which it stood 
had been a matter of contention, until finally 
the owner, to spite his neighbor, had erected this 
tall, narrow building on his limited grounds. 
It was occupied at this time by three families, 
one of whom was the Willets, mother and daugh- 
ter, Josephine, Rob’s ‘^Little Joe.” 

In the midst of his astonishment Deacon Corn- 
hill was ushered into the presence of the invalid 
mother, who, after giving Joey a joyous greet- 
ing, received him in a manner which told that 
she had been well bred. 

^^But I am so helpless here,” she said. ^‘I 
feel very grateful for befriending Joe, who is 
my mainstay. I must have been taken to the 
poorhouse soon after I was obliged to give up 
work, but for her. It has been so hard since 
my husband died. Ah, John and I never 
dreamed of what was in store for us when we 
left our old home in Maine to begin a new life 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


55 


here in the great city. It was a new life, but 
a hard one. He was a good mechanic, but we 
had not been here two years before he was taken 
down with the fever. Of course, as soon as he 
stopped work his wages stopped, and when he 
died I was without a penny, and Joey a little 
girl. How many times I have pined for the old 
home, but, alas! I shall never see it!’^ 

‘‘Yeou shall! cried Deacon Cornhill, ve- 
hemently, for almost at the outset of their con- 
versation the subject uppermost in his mind had 
received an impetus he had not anticipated. 
‘^That is, yeou may not see the old home, but 
yeou may see another just as good.^’ 

If at first she thought him demented, he 
quickly explained the proposition he had made 
to Rob, when Joey clapped her hands with de- 
light. 

‘Ht will bring back your health, mother.’’ 
know the sweet scent of the country air 
would do me good, my daughter, but do not raise 
any false hopes. We have not a cent to get 
there, if we had any place to flee to.” 

Hurrah!” cried the usually dignified dea- 


56 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


con, forgetting his staid ways in the excitement 
of the moment, ‘‘my case is as good as won. 
Yeou shall both of yeou go if yon will, and 
never return to this wicked city.’’ 

“Here comes Rob!” cried happy Joe, begin- 
ning to dance along the space of the narrow 
room. “We’ll talk it all over with him, and 
what a happy day it’ll be ! ” 


CHAPTEE VI. 


HOW THE NEWS WAS CAEEIED TO BASINBUEG. 

‘ ‘ I can do it and I will ! ’ ^ 

The mixed train from the South was drawing 
slowly out of Wenham Junction, as Phil Hardy 
simultaneously uttered this speech and threw 
himself upon the hack of old Jim, his father’s 
farm horse. It was in the early part of April, 
and the mud along the country roads was deep 
and soft, which fact was shown by the appear- 
ance of the horse and its boyish rider. 

Phil was the eldest son of ’Squire Hardy, one 
of the leading citizens of Basinburg. He was 
a harum-scarum youth of eighteen, who always 
seemed to be mixed up in every affair of a shady 
character taking place within a radius of twenty 
miles. Like boys of his ilk, he ever seemed to 


57 


58 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


be present whenever anything of an unusual 
nature was occurring, and ^Ho get his fingers 
in the pie, ’ ^ to use an expression current at that 
time in the quiet, out-of-the-way hamlet of Bas- 
inhurg. Not another boy in town would have 
ridden five miles throu^gh the mud that day to 
have been in Wenham at this time. But Phil 
had not missed it, and as he picked up Jim’s 
reins, heading the horse homeward, he added to 
what he had already said : 

‘^They ought to know it just as quick as they 
can, and they shall! Won’t they stick out their 
eyes though? Let me see. This train goes by 
the Bradford loop, makes four stops, and it’ll 
use up forty minutes in getting to Basinburg. 
Old Jim ought to take me there in half an hour. 
He can and he shall ! Go on, you old veteran of 
the plow ! we ’re the bearers of the news from 
Ghent. ’ ’ 

Laughing, as he gave expression to this whim- 
sical speech, Phil urged Jim ahead at the top 
of his speed, while the good people of Wenham 
had further reason to comment upon the wild 
ways of ’Squire Hardy’s scapegrace son. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


r.9 


The road to Basinburg was sparsely settled, 
so Phil saw few people until he entered the quiet 
hamlet, which, as its name indicated, was sit- 
uated in a valley shaped very much like a huge 
basin, with roads running around the rim. 
Most of the population lived on these circular 
highways, which met at the lower end, where the 
post-office, church and store were located, sur- 
rounded by the larger portion of the dwellings. 

The sight of Phil’s mud-bespattered figure 
and the foaming condition of his horse called the 
more easily excited of the inhabitants from their 
houses, while he shouted at frequent intervals: 

^^Come and see the elephant! Nothing like 
it ever came to town!” 

Utterly regardless of his grammar, or the 
comments he was calling upon himself, Phil 
repeated his rather incoherent speech, and by 
the time he had uttered it a dozen times, the boys 
of the town began to follow him, wondering what 
new scheme he was carrying out. This soon 
aroused Phil to more earnest cries, while he 
prodded old Jim ahead faster than before. 
Small wonder if the people began to rush after 


60 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


the crazy rider, until a mob of excited men and 
women, as well as boys, was at his heels. 

‘AYhat is it, Philip!” asked the gray-headed 
parson, running out in his slippers, hatless and 
coatless. 

‘^Deacon Cornhill— hoodlums of New York 
—a mob!” was all the anxious crowd could dis- 
tinguish in the medley of cries. 

Still Phil showed no signs of stopping or 
checking his wild ride, his course being now to- 
ward the little way-station, about half a mile be- 
low the post-office village. On account of the 
high grade this had been as near as the cars 
could come into town. 

At every house the trail of followers was in- 
creased by one or more members, every one be- 
lieving that something terrible had happened 
or was about to take place. Hardly looking back 
Phil rode straight on toward the depot, old Jim 
covered with mud and panting for breath. As 
he came in sight of a low, wooden building the 
whistle of the approaching train was heard a 
quarter of a mile away. 

‘H’m in season!” exclaimed Phil, triumph- 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


61 


antly. ‘^Come on, folks, if yon want to see the 
sight of your lives!’’ 

The oncoming spectators needed no further 
urging to do this, and scarcely had the boyish 
rider reined up his spent horse by the narrow 
platform before the foremost of his followers, 
regardless of the slush ankle-deep about the 
station, rushed upon the scene. Others rapidly 
added to their numbers. 

^ ‘ What is it, Phil ! ’ ’ asked Lon Wiggles, who 
had outrun all others in reaching the place. 
‘‘What has brought you home from Wenham 
like thisP’ 

“I know,” replied Phil, with a knowing toss 
of his head, as he sprang from old Jim’s smok- 
ing back. 

“I s ’posed you did, but that needn’t make a 
crab of you.” 

“Excuse me, Lon. I see Deacon Cornhill on 
the train down at Wenham.” 

“Is that all!” and looks of disgust and dis- 
appointment settled on the features of those 
near enough to overhear this dialogue. It is 


62 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


needless to say Phil was maintaining this air 
of mystery more for their benefit than Lon’s. 

Can’t yon wait till a feller has time to think! 
Ko, it ain’t all. The deacon is coming home with 
a carload of New York cattle. Bnt here comes 
the train; look for yourself. Ladies and gen- 
tlemen, Deacon Cornhill is coming home with 
all of the poor of New York at his heels. See 
for yourselves,” waving his hand in a tragical 
manner, as the long train came pounding along 
the iron rails. 

With puffs and snorts, as of rage at being 
stopped in its wild career, the engine came to 
a standstill just beyond the upper end of the sta- 
tion, so as to bring the two passenger cars nearly 
opposite the building. 

With a faint inkling of what they were to ex- 
pect, the spectators stood looking on with gap- 
ing mouths and staring eyes, while the tall, 
stoop-shouldered figure of Deacon Cornhill ap- 
peared on the rear platform. His benevolent 
features were lighted with an uncommon glow, 
as he gazed upon the crowd gathered thus un- 
expectedly about the station. Hesitating but 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 63 

a moment , lie descended the steps, and then 
turned to look back. 

The object of his gaze was soon apparent, 
for at that moment other passengers were fol- 
lowing him from the car. In the lead of these 
came a tall, rather good-looking, but plainly 
dressed boy of seventeen, whose pinched fea- 
tures were illuminated by flashing eyes. He was 
none other than Ragged Rob, ex-bootblack of 
New York. Leaning on his arm was a middle- 
aged woman, recognized by the onlookers as his 
mother beyond a suspicion of doubt. Her coun- 
tenance was thin and careworn, while her brown 
hair was thickly streaked with threads of silver. 

No sooner had Rob assisted his mother down 
the steps than he turned to help others in lift- 
ing a pallid-faced woman, who was an invalid, 
from the car. Close behind her came a pale, 
frightened girl, who shrank near to Rob at sight 
of the wondering spectators. They were Mrs. 
Willet and Joey. 

Wlaile the poor invalid was carried to a settee 
at one side of the station, a woman with cadav- 
erous countenance and wild eyes, and a man who 


64 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


had to be lifted down from the car, reached the 
platform, the latter being borne to a second 
bench. Then an elderly woman, with a strange- 
looking peaked cap, and squat figure, followed, 
while close behind her came a girl of fourteen 
and five boys, ranging in ages from ten to fifteen 
years. 

During this brief delay a small lot of baggage 
had been thrown on the station floor, and as the 
last of the ill-favored passengers alighted, the 
conductor waved his hand, the bell rang, the 
engine puffed anew, the wheels began to revolve, 
and the train rolled away, leaving the little 
group of persons the centre of observation of 
many pairs of curious eyes. 

‘^For gracious sake, what have you been 
doing, deacon?’’ asked ’Squire Hardy, a short, 
thick-set individual, who had been among the 
first to reach the place. He was troubled with 
asthma, and the exertion in reaching the station 
had put him out of breath and humor. 

Though amazed at this most unexpected greet- 
ing, Deacon Cornhill soon recovered from his 
surprise enough to say : 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


65 


'M have just brung home a leetle company, 
^Squire, I—’’ 

‘‘Huh!’’ was the rejoinder. “Company? I 
should say company ! Where did you pick that 
’sortment of folks?” 

“In the streets o’ New York,” replied the dea- 
con. “Never see sich sights in my life, ’squire. 
AYhy, th’ ground is just runnin’ over with folks, 
and sin and wickedness is thicker ’n th’ folks! 
I swan ! it’s too bad, and so I persuaded th’ half- 
starved critters to come to Basinburg with me. 
I know yeou’ll lend a helpin’ hand for ’em to 
hev homes. Them empty house ’n deserted 
farms on the Hare road can be as well filled as 
not.” 

All the time he was speaking the crowd pressed 
nearer and nearer, causing the new-comers to 
huddle close together, with half-frightened looks 
on their faces. Though used to seeing mobs, and 
having lived in crowded streets, there was some- 
thing about these spectators which sent a feel- 
ing of terror to their hearts. Rob was the only 
exception, and as an over-anxious burly indi- 
vidual pushed his way toward the helpless man 


66 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


and woman, he stepped brusquely forward, ex- 
claiming : 

Stand back, sir! You’re crowding a sick 
man and woman. Seems to me there ought to 
be room for ’em out here.” 

The man retreated muttering: 

‘‘Be keerful how you sass yer betters, ye in- 
solent critter. ’ ’ 

At this remark a murmur went up from the 
crowd, which it was plain to see were generally 
unfriendly to the new arrivals. The last did 
form a motley-looking party, as even Deacon 
Cornhill himself could not deny. 

“They look like furrin truck!” declared one 
of the spectators, whereupon a general nod of 
assent was given. 

“Please stand back, all,” implored Deacon 
Cornhill. 

“Want us to stand here all day ankle deep in 
the mud I s’pose,” exclaimed one in the back- 
ground, as if he had not come of his own free- 
will. 

“Yes, stand back, one and all!” ordered 
’Squire Hardy, and at his command there was a 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


67 


slight shifting of positions. It was very plain 
he was the majority looked to for guidance. If 
he had said be friendly to these unprepossessing 
strangers Deacon Cornhill would have had no 
cause for further worry over the matter. Un- 
fortunately, though there was no evidence of it 
in their outward appearance, this couple enter- 
tained a bitter dislike for each other, owing to 
an old trouble. Of course the deacon had his 
friends present, if no one had spoken an encour- 
aging word, but they were very much in the 
minority. But, as ’Squire Hardy seemed dis- 
posed to be fair, he gathered new courage, say- 
ing: 

“I will explain all as soon as I’ve made these 
poor sick ones more comfortable. ’ ’ 

No one had suggested that they be taken into 
the station, so their kindly protector did not 
offer to do it. But he removed his overcoat and 
placed it over Mrs. Willet, so as to keep her 
warm, while he arranged the man so his position 
was more easy. Fortunately the day was mild, 
and as Deacon Cornhill turned to face the half- 
angry crowd, the setting sun threw a wide bar 


68 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


of golden splendor over the western sky, which 
halo was reflected on the distant hills, giving to 
the spring scene a hint of summer. A flaw of 
April wind stirred the long, thin locks of the 
gray-headed philanthropist, as he slowly raised 
his spare right hand to admonish silence. 

If a calm had fallen on the scene it was the 
calm that usually precedes the storm. Deacon 
Cornhill already felt that it was coming, and 
trembled for the result; ^Squire Hardy expected 
it ; and the aroused spectators were waiting im- 
patiently to show their willingness in sending 
out of the town this unexpected and unsought 
addition to their population. How the storm 
broke in all its tei-rihle fury will be told in the 
coming chapter. 



The cry of the frightened boys and girls had suddenly aroused 
its rage 


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CHAPTER VII. 


THE DEACON EXPLAINS AND THE SQUIRE OBJECTS. 

Ahem/^ began Deacon Cornhill, clearing his 
throat, and while he did so looking anxiously 
over the crowd, wondering still how so many 
people came to be there. ‘‘Ahem! I— yeou see, 
f r hns, this is sich a s Uprise to me I hardly know 
how to begin. Yeou see I got to New York, an’ 
I never see sich sights, I swan, I never did ! I 
hadn’t more’n got into town afore a spruce chap 
stepped up an’ slapped me on the shoulder, just 
same ’s Sam Williams would, an’ yeou all know 
how terrible common Sam is. Wa’l, he claimed 
he knowed me up here in Basinburg— told a 
whoppin’ story ’bout chasin’ a calf out’n my 
garden seven or eight years ago. But all the 
time he was arter the church money, an’ ’tween 


69 


70 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


him an’ ernother an’ a parcel o’ boys they 
e’enamost got it, an’—” 

^‘Not got the church money, Elihu?” called 
out a shrill voice from the rear of the crowd, and 
then Mrs. Cornhill, who had been attracted to 
the scene the same as the others, pushed her way 
frantically forward, until she stood on the sta- 
tion platform in front of the abashed deacon. 
^‘Yeou don’t say yeou hev lost the church 
money, Elihu?” 

Several among the spectators groaned. 

‘‘Don’t git ’scited, Mandy; don’t git ’scited. 
I didn’t lose the church money, thanks to this 
boy here. But if ’em dog—” 

“Hush, deacon, it’s yeou who’s gittin’ 
’scited. ’ ’ 

“ Wa’al, if yeou had been where I hev, Mandy, 
an’ seen what I’ve seen yeou’d git ’scited. But 
this boy here got my money all back, and then, 
when he tuk me round to show me how folks live 
in that big, wicked city, I swan, I felt like givin’ 
’em all homes right here in Basinburg!” 

“T should think you had brought back a good 
part of the city,” said one of the bystanders. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


71 


‘‘Pity tlie poorest if you call these good,” 
cried another. 

“I tuk a fancy to Rob, here,” continued the 
deacon, unheeding the interruption, “arter th’ 
good turn he did me. But when I axed him to 
go home with me, he said he couldn’t leave his 
mother, which I hold was a good sign in the boy. 
I told him to take her right erlong, too. But he 
had fri’nds, an’ I told him to take ’em erlong, 
too, though I didn’t s’pose there was more’n a 
house full. Buddy me ! when I come to see how 
they lived, I wouldn’t take no for an answer, 
but they must come, with all th’ land an’ fresh 
air, an’ room we hev out here. 

“YHiy, it nighly tuk away my breath to just 
look in their houses. If yeou will b ’lieve it, Mr. 
Little,” pointing to the invalid man, “lived in 
a den right under the road, with teams drivin’ 
overhead, an’ he a suffocatin’ in a leetle room 
nine feet underground. It was only six foot by 
eight, an’ he had no fire, only the part o’ an old 
bedstead to lay on, an’ an old tick half full o’ 
musty hay an’ a dirty piller. Mrs. Willet an’ 
her darter lived in a house only four foot wide, 


72 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


though th’ Lord only knows how high it was. 
Just think o' that, an' then o' th' houses stand- 
in' empty here th' year round. 

‘‘These youngsters here were runnin'wild like 
young colts turned out to paster, only there 
weren't no fences to keep 'em within bounds, 
an' there was no halters on 'em to head 'em 
inter their stalls when it come night. I tell yeou 
it made my blood bile just to see sich works right 
in this civilized land. I thought o' 'em houses 
on th' Hare road standin' empty, an' says I to 
myself, ‘there's room fer 'em, an' I know th' 
good people o' Basinburg will turn to an' lend 
a helpin' hand.' " 

He was perspiring freely, while he showed 
great excitement, but his animated speech was 
greeted with a profound silence. It is true 
some one started to cheer him, but he did not 
have the courage to give full expression to his 
feelings. The majority were waiting for 
'Squire Hardy to speak, and the rest were too 
timid to venture an opinion until he had spoken. 
Clearing his throat, he finally said : 

“It might have been well enough, deacon, if 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS, 


73 


you hadn’t brought a car-load. It’s a mystery 
to me how they got money enough to pay their 
fares, unless you brought them home on the 
church money. ’ ’ 

This was a cruel thrust, the very worst he 
could have made, and it was several moments 
before Deacon Cornhill could rally sufficiently 
to reply. His hesitation was misunderstood by 
the larger portion of the spectators, which gave 
a still worse aspect to the situation. 

“I am an honest man, ’Squire,” replied Mr. 
Cornhill at last, ‘‘an’ I can account for every 
cent o’ the church money,” and for the first 
time he was accorded a faint outburst of fellow- 
sympathy. 

He was too modest to mention that It had cost 
him nearly fifteen dollars of his own money to 
make up for their deficit, and he continued : 

“Am I to understand that yeou air opposed 
to treatin’ these poor folks like neighbors, 
’Squire?” 

“I’m opposed to nothing that’s human, but 
you know, deacon, there ’s a limit to what we can 
stand. I never was in favor of foreign immi- 


74 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


gration. What do you say, folks appealing 
to those around him. ^^No doubt the good old 
deacon meant all right, but look at the crowd 
he has brought among us, and say if you want 
them. ’ ’ 

‘‘Paupers, every one of them!” cried a voice 
from the throng. 

“Perhaps worse than that,” declared another. 

‘ ‘ They look to me like a parcel of thieves ! ’ ’ 

“Paupers and thieves!” exclaimed a dozen in 
the same breath, until Deacon Cornhill turned 
pale, as he felt that ominous results were likely 
to come from his well-meant intentions. 

The little party of strangers huddled together 
in great trepidation, excepting their leading 
spirit. Ragged Rob, who had so gladly yielded 
to the counsel of their would-be benefactor and 
lent his influence toward getting them here. 
Something of the spirit of the stern man for 
whom he had been nicknamed flashed in Little 
Hickory’s eyes, and drawing his figure to its 
full height with a dignity felt all the more for 
the ragged suit in which he was clothed, he ex- 
claimed in a tone heard to the limit of the scene ; 


BEEAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


75 


“Paupers and thieves, never! We are poor, 
but we are willing to earn an honest living. 
Deacon Cornhill, if we are not wanted here—’’ 

“Tut-tut, lad!” said the other in an under- 
tone, ‘ ‘ this will soon blow over, ’ ’ though he had 
his misgivings. 

“You see how it is, deacon, and how the peo- 
ple feel,” said the ’squire, with a ring of tri- 
umph in his voice. “This bringing so many 
city hoodlums into our midst is a risky experi- 
ment. For my part, I had rather my house 
should burn down than to have such people 
in it.” 

“It’d be pretty sure to if any o’ ’em were in 
it,” cried a zealous friend. 

“I do not believe there is a house on the Hare 
road they can get. ’ ’ 

“No, no, no!” came from every quarter. 

’Squire Hardy looked exultant, while Deacon 
Cornhill was dumbfounded. No one had ven- 
tured to speak a word in his behalf. 

“What have you done, Elihu?” asked Mrs. 
Cornhill, who had but a vague idea of the situa- 
tion. 


76 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


‘‘Don^t git ’scited, Mandy; it’ll soon blow 
over. Fri’nds,” lie continued, addressing the 
crowd, don’t misjudge yeour neighbors. These 
poor folks air all honest, as I’m willin’ to take 
my vow. Why, if it hadn’t been for this boy I 
shouldn’t hev lived to come home. He not only 
saved my money, but my life, an’ I’ll stand by 
him now. ’ ’ 

‘‘Good for you, deacon,” some one was bold 
enough to cry out, when a faint cheer followed. 
This encouraged him to resume : 

“If you don’t want these poor folks in your 
houses. I’ll look ’em up some places. They can 
stop at my place to-night. But here we air keep- 
ing this sick man and woman here, to say noth- 
ing 0 ’ th ’ rest. I wish I had my two-hoss jingle 
wagon here, I swan, I do.” 

At first no reply was made to this, but finally 
a farmer from the upper part of the town said : 

“If you want to go arter your wagon, deacon, 
you can have my team to go with, if you will 
only leave a barrel of flour that is in the wagon 
at Widder Short’s.” 

Deacon Cornhill gladly accepted this offer, 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


77 


and he lost no time in starting, saying, as he 
clambered over the high-backed seat: 

Yeou can go with me if yeon want to, Rob.’’ 
thank you, sir, hut I had rather remain 
with mother and the rest. I think it will be best 
for me to do so. ’ ’ 

^‘If you please, sir, I would like to go,” said 
Chick. 

‘ ‘ So yeou can, bub ; and you, too, ’ ’ nodding to 
another, a year older than Chick, and known as 
‘ ‘ Ruddy. ’ ’ 

The boys were happy, but Deacon Cornhill 
was too deeply engrossed over the situation to 
pay much heed to his young companions, as he 
gathered up the reins and drove away from the 
station. This reception was very different from 
the triumphal entry into town which he had an- 
ticipated. 

‘‘The ’squire is still ag’in me, an’ he means to 
make trouble, ’ ’ he mused. “If he won’t let ’em 
go on th’ Hare road, they shall go somewhere. I 
have it! I’ll put ’em up on Break o’ Day; that’s 
just what I’ll do. Git erlong, old Dan! that’s 
just what I’ll do.” 


78 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


So absorbed was the good man in his plans 
that he did not notice he had already got the 
raw-boned horse into a smart gait, so that the 
old wagon was drawn through the mud and over 
the rocks at a tremendous rate, giving the boys 
about all they could do to hold upon the high- 
backed seat, while the barrel of flour rolled 
about at the great risk of being sent from the 
vehicle altogether. 

‘‘The Break o’ Day is their only hope,” re- 
peated the deacon, as he rode on with increasing 
speed. 

Lost to other thoughts in his eagerness to get 
back to the station, he continued to urge the 
horse ahead, until by the time they had reached 
the outskirts of the little village the spirited ani- 
mal was flying along the country road at the top 
of its speed. The way was rough, and the wagon 
Jolting over the stony places kept the barrel of 
flour in constant motion. In fact, an uncom- 
monly severe movement sent one head flying out 
into the mud, and the white, fluffy mass within 
caught up by the wind flew about like a perfect 
cloud over the occupants of the vehicle. 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


79 


‘^Ginger and snaps!’’ cried Chick, who was 
enjoying the situation, ain’t we spinning. 
Ruddy 1” 

‘ ‘ You bet ! this is better ’n the circus. Get up, 
old nag ! if this is country life it jess knocks the 
spots off’n New York at her best.” 

The boys were enjoying the affair if the deacon 
was not. Then, in the midst of this wild flight, 
when it seemed as if the sober member of Basin- 
burg church had really lost his head, those in- 
habitants of the village who had not gone to the 
station rushed out of their houses to see what 
was taking place. 

Getting a vague outline of the deacon’s stal- 
wart figure amidst the cloud of flour they began 
to cry out in dismay. This only served to arouse 
the deacon the more, and swinging his long whip 
in the air he cried louder than ever: 

‘‘Get erlong there, Dan Crow! it’s Break o’ 
Day or nothing!” 

The old wagon making a noise and confusion 
heard to the fartherest section of the village, the 
half-crazed deacon and his young companions, 
who were shouting with laughter, were borne on 


80 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


at a wilder pace than ever. In the midst of this 
they passed the parsonage, when the horrified 
minister rushed out of the house, bareheaded 
and with outstretched arms, calling out to the 
horse to stop. Then, recognizing the form of 
his respected parishioner involved in the cloud 
of flour, he shouted in amazement : 

‘‘Why, Deacon Cornhill! what has happened? 
Stop — stop — st — ’ ’ 

“IDs Break o’ Day or nothing, parson; snow 
storm or no snow storm. Get erlong, Dan.” 

The good man barely saved himself from be- 
ing run over, as the deacon and his companions 
were carried past, the latter crying out in the 
ears of the bewildered preacher : 

‘ ‘ Did you ever get left on the pavements ? ’ ’ 


CHAPTER VIII. 


BOB STANDS HIS GROUND. 

Meanwhile the crowd about the station had 
watched the departure of Deacon Cornhill in 
silence, but no sooner had he disappeared in the 
distance than ’Squire Hardy held a consultation 
of a few words with his nearest friends. Then 
he turned to address Rob, who, realizing that a 
crisis of some kind was at hand, calmly waited 
for him to speak. 

‘‘Youngster,” began the ’Squire, “it must be 
plain to you by this time that you and your fol- 
lowers made a mistake in coming here as you 
have. In the first place it can be of no advan- 
tage to you, and in the second place you are not 
wanted by us. ’ ’ 

“I am sorry, sir, that it has happened as it 
has, but it does not seem to me that any one is to 
blame. We have come with honest inten- 
tions—” 


81 


82 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


‘ ^ It requires honest people to carry out honest 
intentions. It^s the doing that counts. Come, 
it is nearly night, and you have harely time in 
which to get out of town before dark. The walk- 
ing is good on the railroad track. ’ ’ 

The tone more than the words nettled Ragged 
Rob, and he exclaimed : 

‘^It will be better or worse, before I or my 
friends go that way. ’ ’ 

‘‘DonT you throw any of your New York sass 
in my face, you ragged dog. You’ll either get 
out of town pretty lively of your own account, 
or we will help you in a way you may not like. 
I give you fair warning and five minutes of time 
to get started in. ’ ’ 

A groan came from the suffering man on the 
settee, while the others of the forlorn little group 
turned pale with fright. But Little Hickory 
was made of sterner stuff, and drawing his slen- 
der figure to its full height, making him look like 
a fairy prince in disguise of rags, he replied in a 
tone heard by the most distant of the spectators : 

“Sir, you cannot drive us away without mak- 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


83 


ing trouble for yourself. We have come here 
peacefully, and we demand fair treatment. This 
poor man here,’' pointing to the invalid Mr. 
Little, “cannot take a step to save his life. And 
this sick woman,” now pointing to Mrs. Willet, 
‘ ‘ deserves kind treatment at your hands. ’ ’ 

This fearless speech was received with vary- 
ing effect by the onlookers. It won the respect 
if not the admiration of some, while still others 
thought that perhaps the ’squire had been hasty 
in his denouncement. Others looked askance 
towards the justice, while he, feeling that he had 
been openly and defiantly humiliated, shook 
with anger, while he exclaimed in a voice husky 
with passion : 

^ ‘ Fool ! if you think this high-handed piece of 
impudence is going through all right you’ll find 
yourself most— mistaken.” 

’Squire Hardy used a word where I have in- 
serted the dash which I do not care to quote, 
while he advanced towards Ragged Rob with a 
look of intense hatred. He seemed about to 
seize the brave boy in his grasp of iron, when 
the latter said; 


84 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


‘‘Lay a hand on me if you dare, Mr. Hardy.’’ 

“Be careful how you make yourself liable for 
striking the hoy,” spoke up one of the specta- 
tors who was standing at the corner of the sta- 
tion. 

“If it wasn’t for the law I’d throw the young 
ripscallion into— ” using another word that may 
have fitted his feelings, but which grated harsh- 
ly even on that exciting scene. “As it is, I will 
make out a warrant for their arrest as quick as 
I can find pen and paper to do it, Johnson.” 

“If you do you will have to get Sheriff Stan- 
yan to serve it, ’squire.” 

“I suppose you think I ought to let these 
^ hoodlums go where they wish, Johnson. I tell 
you the safety of the public demands that I stop 
them where they are.” 

“You mistake my meaning, ’squire. While I 
may be sorry that they have come, I believe in 
fair treatment, and abiding by the law.” 

“I should like to know who is breaking the 
law if it is not them,” snapped the justice, who 
was already inquiring for pen, ink and paper. 

“I hardly know what charge you can bring 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


85 


against them, ’squire, but you are doubtless bet- 
ter posted than 1.” 

‘‘If I weren’t I’d bold my mouth,” muttered 
the other, though being careful not to speak 
loud enough for Mr. Johnson to hear. In a 
louder tone he cried: 

“I can arrest the whole crowd for vagrancy, 
and bring them up as suspicious characters. I 
calculate enough can be brought against them to 
put them in the lock-up to-night, and to send 
them adrift to-morrow. At any rate I propose 
to see what can be done. I want some one to go 
for Sheriff Stanyan. As Mr. Jones, the sta- 
tion agent, may wish to have his place cleared 
^ of such stock before night, I should advise that 
the messenger go for the officer with all speed 
possible. ’ ’ 

At the conclusion of this speech the ’squire 
turned to see what effect his words had upon 
the little group of homeless strangers. He was 
disappointed to find that they had not brought 
any visible show of trepidation to any of them. 

“Look here, Trask,” addressing one of the 
spectators, continued the justice, “you have got 


86 


BEEAKO^ DAY BOYS. 


a good horse. Go to Bradford and find Sheriff 
Stanyan. Tell him I will have the papers all 
made out by the time he gets here.’’ 

“It’s awful travelling, ’squire, and my 
horse—” 

“Don’t stop to consider the travelling, Trask, 
on a time like this. The safety of the public 
must be upheld. You shall lose nothing by the 
trip.” 

Without further opposition the man called 
Trask started for his team, which was hitched 
near by, and a minute later he rode away on 
his errand, while ’Squire Hardy went into the 
station agent’s office to make out the required 
paper. 

Though there was little display of excitement 
on the surface, it was really an exciting situa- 
tion. The onlookers began to gather in little 
knots to talk over the affair, a few blaming the 
’squire, but the majority upholding him in his 
decisive action. As is usual under such condi- 
tions, the forlorn strangers, ragged and penni- 
less, proved to be equally friendless. 

Bagged Bob improved the opportunity to 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


87 


speak a few words of encouragement to his 
companions, trying to assure them that it would 
be all right as soon as Deacon Cornhill should 
return. But even he felt in his heart that the 
kindly deacon would he powerless to meet and 
overcome the increasing enmity of his towns- 
people. 


CHAPTER IX. 

A STARTLING SURPRISE. 

To add to the uncomfortableness of the situa- 
tion threatenings of rain began to appear about 
this time, but the crowd of spectators showed no 
signs of dispersing, one and all waiting with 
curious interest to see what the end would be. 

In the midst of the lull in the scene the ’squire 
reappeared, holding in his hand now a warrant 
for the arrest of the newcomers under the 
charge of Ragged Boh, who stood by the side 
of Joe and her mother at this time. 

reckon I have made it strong enough to 
hold ’em,” declared the justice, referring to the 
paper in his hand. hope Stanyan will get 
here before dark. Ah, it’s going to rain soon. 
I wish Stanyan was here now.” 

The same wish may have been in the minds 
of others, and ’Squire Hardy was not the only 
88 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


89 


one who consulted his watch and calculated that 
it would be fully an hour later before the officer 
could be expected. 

At this juncture the sound of a wagon ap- 
proaching was heard, and all turned expect- 
antly up the road, to discover a double team 
coming towards the station at a smart rate of 
speed. The seat contained one man and two 
boys. Covered from head to foot with the flour 
that had blown over him it was no wonder the 
driver was not recognized until he was near at 
hand. 

‘‘It’s Deacon Cornhill!” cried one of the by- 
standers. “But what in the world has he been 
doing with himself?” 

The deacon did present a singular appear- 
ance, but he was unmindful of this, as he drove 
his team alongside the station platform, calling 
out in his cheery voice : 

“I hope you ain’t got tired o ’waiting, but I 
went as spry as I could. Here, boys, help throw 
the things in, and then we’ll give the sick ones 
a boost. Jim, jess hold my bosses.” 

“Don’t know as I care about mixing up in 


90 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


sich an affair,” muttered the man addressed, 
quickly retreating to the rear of the crowd to 
escape a second invitation of the kind. 

‘‘I should like to know what you are up to!” 
demanded ’Squire Hardy, advancing, while he 
flourished the document in his hand so the other 
might see it. have sent for Mr. Stanyan to 
attend to these folks. I reckon he’ll be in time 
to look after them,” pulling out his watch and 
consulting it. 

^^We won’t bother Mr. Stanyan, and there 
was no need for you to send for him, and before 
I shall let these critters go T want to know what 
you are going to do with them. ’ ’ 

‘‘So long as they are peaceful you have no 
business to meddle. Won’t some of you lend a 
hand here to get this poor cripple into the 
wagon?” appealing to the bystanders. 

“I asked you a civil question and you haven’t 
answered it, deacon, ’ ’ said ’Squire Hardy, step- 
ping in front of the other. 

No one had volunteered to lend their assist- 
ance in reply to his request to help him and Rob 
lift Mr. Little into the wagon, while the horses 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


91 


were becoming more restive each moment, with 
no one at the bit. The rain was beginning to 
fall in big drops, and altogether it was no won- 
der Deacon Cornhill began to grow nervous and 
discouraged. 

‘‘Why not let them go, ’squire?’’ asked Mr. 
J ohnson, who seemed to be an honest man. ‘ ‘ It 
is going to rain hard in a few minutes, and the 
deacon needs every moment if he would get 
under cover before it strikes.” 

With these words the speaker took hold to 
help, and in a few minutes the entire party were 
seated in the wagon, though by that time the 
rain was falling fast. 

Deacon Cornhill climbed up to the driver’s 
seat, taking the reins stoutly in his hands. It 
needed no urging on his part to start the ani- 
mals, and with a series of yells and jibes ring- 
ing in his ears the good man drove smartly 
away, glad to escape so easily. 

’Squire Hardy stood silent, but his face livid 
with rage as he saw the strange party leave 
the station. The crowd of spectators had now 
sought the cover of the building, and were ex- 


92 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


changing comments upon the singular conduct 
of the deacon one with another. 

‘‘Let the old fool go in the rain/’ declared 
the ’squire. “He ain’t heard the last of this, 
not by a long shot. I’ll set Stanyan after ’em, 
and if he can’t cook their goose I will if it costs 
me all I’m worth. Deacon Cornhill needn’t 
think he is going to jeopardize the safety of the 
whole town by any such tomfoolery. I’ll give 
you a dollar, Joe Dullard, if you’ll f oiler ’em 
so as to tell where they go. If the deacon takes 
’em home you’ll see lively times before morn- 
ing.” 

But Deacon Cornhill had no intention of tak- 
ing his party home. He feared too much the 
sharp tongue of Mrs. Cornhill, whom he had al- 
ready found was opposed to the scheme, to do 
that even if he had wished. So he did not even 
pass his home as he drove ahead at a smart gal- 
lop through the rain, which was soon falling in 
a perfect torrent. As there was no covering to 
the wagon the entire party was suffering from 
the down-pouring, though the others had cov- 
ered the two invalids as best as they could. For- 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


93 


tunately there had been a large rubber blanket 
in the wagon, and this quite covered them, so 
they were kept comparatively dry. 

The only ones who enjoyed the ride were the 
three boys, Chick, Ruddy and Dick, though two 
others known as Tom and Jerry joined with 
them in their outbursts of merriment. More 
than any one else of the little party from the 
great city Ragged Rob realized that the charm 
had fled from the picture, and that the dark 
background was now revealed. Only stern and 
determined work could win in the bitter struggle 
ahead. He had not lost faith in himself, but 
he knew that his companions were helpless to 
assist him or were of such a nature as to prove 
a hindrance rather than a power for good. But 
he was the last hoy to despair. His whole life 
had been a battle against adverse circumstances, 
and tried in such a career he was not going to 
falter now. Thus he spoke encouragingly to his 
low-spirited companions and looked hopefully 
forward to their destination, wondering what 
sort of a place awaited them at the end of their 
journey. 


94 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


The road to Break 0’ Day, as the place to 
which they were going was known, wound np 
through a deep wood for over four miles, and 
not a dwelling was to be seen on the entire route. 
Though they were somewhat protected from the 
rain under the overhanging forest, it was a dis- 
mal ride, and every one hailed with joy the 
opening at the summit of the hill or mountain. 

The deacon spoke encouragingly to the weary 
horses, which started into a smart trot now that 
the way was comparatively level. 

The Break 0’ Day track of country really 
consisted of a thousand acres of wild land, for 
the most, which had been largely cleared of its 
first growth by charcoal burners a few years 
before, and been allowed to send up a second 
growth of saplings now in that age termed 
‘‘sprouts.’’ 

Of course the strangers to this isolated spot 
paid little heed to their surroundings, as one 
and all tried to escape as much as possible the 
drenching rain, which was falling faster than 
ever if that were possible. But Rob looked in 
vain for any sign of a house, until they had gone 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


95 


half a mile, when he discovered a solitary frame 
house of two stories, and which had once been 
painted red on the outside. This paint was now 
worn off so that the broad sides of the building 
looked brown and dilapidated in the storm. 
There was not a whole window in the house and 
the door at the front side hung from one hinge. 

But the gaze of the approaching observers 
was suddenly attracted by the sight of a couple 
of horsemen riding up in front of the building 
from the opposite direction. 

Deacon Cornhill had seen the two men, and 
pulling up the horses he was driving, he said 
in a low, but husky, tone: 

‘‘It’s Sheriff Stanyan and ’Squire Hardy! 
They’ve got here ahead of us.” 


CHAPTERR X. 

’squire hardy outwitted. 

The reins trembled in the hands of Deacon 
Cornhill, who dared not contemplate the result 
of another meeting with his enemy. Rob proved 
himself better fitted to meet this emergency, and 
he asked: 

‘‘Is there no other house that we can have?” 

“This is the only house on Break O’ Day. 
There are some sod houses that the coal burners 
lived in, but they are not fit places for you to 
stay.” 

‘ ‘ If others have lived there we can. I do not 
believe they have seen us. See, they are dis- 
mounting and leading their horses under the 
shelter of the trees. Can we get to one of these 
sod houses without passing that house!” 

96 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


97 


‘^Oh, yes, there are two or three of them down 
this cart-way a short distance.’’ 

‘ ‘ Then drive down there, and we will see what 
the ’squire will do.” 

Nothing loathe, the deacon headed the horses 
down a narrow grass-grown path, where neither 
the footfalls of the animals or the revolution of 
the wheels gave back any sound. 

Little dreaming of the close proximity of 
those for whom they were looking. Sheriff 
Stanyan and ’Squire Hardy, after seeing that 
their horses could not stray, hastily sought the 
old house that they might escape the pelting 
rain, while they watched and waited for their 
prey. 

Meanwhile Deacon Cornhill drove slowly 
along the pathway where the bushes overhung 
them so that they slapped the occupants of the 
wagon in the face unless they held them back 
with their hands. After going a little way a 
small clearing was reached, on the upper edge 
of which Rob saw the open door of a couple of 
the oddest dwellings he had ever seen. In the 
great city some of his companions had left 


98 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


dark, dismal quarters under the very streets to 
come into tliis remote region to seek the shelter 
of low structures built of poles stood up in an 
inclined position so their tops met, and the in- 
clined plane covered with grass and sods. The 
rear ends of these simple dwellings were formed 
by big rocks against which they had been con- 
structed, while the front was open the size of a 
door. Stone chimneys had been built at the 
further extremity, and through the open door- 
way could be seen the rough fireplace. 

As the deacon stopped the horses in front of 
one of these primitive dwellings, Rob and the 
rest of the boys sprang down to the ground, and 
a hasty unloading of the few articles brought 
was begun. Mrs. Willet was lifted from the 
wagon and carried into the sod house, to be 
placed on one of the blankets. Then came Mr. 
Little’s turn, when he was carried into the rude 
dwelling just beyond, it having been decided to 
divide into two parties. 

Deacon Cornhill had not forgotten to take 
along a small supply of food, a few potatoes, 
some flour and pork, and other articles of 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


99 


scarcely less account though less bulky. But 
there was no furniture, and when the last thing 
had been removed from the wagon and Deacon 
Cornhill surveyed the scanty store and the wet, 
gloomy surroundings he could not help feeling 
a bitter disappointment at the way his bright 
plans had turned out. 

^‘Well, keep up good courage, boys, and we 
will see to-morrow if something can’t be done 
for you. This is all my land round-about here, 
and such as it is make as free wiih it as if you 
owned it. I know it ain’t rich soil, but in the 
valleys yeou will find a chance to dig up patches 
to plant. The coal-burners plowed up some of 
the best places, so it won’t be quite like new sod. 
There is plenty of wood, and I advise yeou to 
build a fire the first thing yeou do. 

s’pose I shall have to go home, as mother 
will be anxious about me. But I will come up 
in the morning, when we will lay our plans for 
the futur’. I hope the sheriff won’t find yeou. 
If he does, yeou must do the best you can, Rob. 
I can’t see how he can arrest you so long as 
yeou are peaceful. I will come up as early as 


LofC. 


100 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


I can to-morrow. Let me advise the rest of you 
to mind Rob in what he says. He’s got a good 
head on him, and he will help yeou out if any- 
body can.” 

With these words the honest-hearted man 
climbed back to the wagon seat, gathering up 
the reins headed the horses homeward, though 
as he rode away his gaze was turned backward 
until the bushes hid him from view. 

There is one honest man in this wilderness,” 
said Mrs. Willet, ‘‘but it seems as if every one 
else was against us. I suppose we must hope 
for the best.” 

“To be sure, mother,” replied Rob, who al- 
ways addressed her thus, “and with the clear- 
ing away of the rain we will hope for better 
fare. Come, boys, help me get some wood so 
we can have a fire.” 

The other boys lending their assistance, 
while Rob ’s mother and the girls cleaned up the 
interior of the camps, a fire was soon blazing 
merrily in each of the rude dwellings, giving a 
surprising cheerfulness to the scene. Prepara- 
tions for supper were begun at once, and alto- 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


101 


gether the new-comers were as comfortable and 
hopeful as could be expected. 

The rain was still falling steadily, though not 
as rapidly as at first, while it was growing dark. 

Without stopping to eat supper with the 
others, Rob left the camp to see if he could 
learn anything of the two men at the old house, 
promising not to be gone long. 

Upon coming out into the road within sight 
of the place no sign of life was apparent until 
he came near enough to see the horses still 
standing where their owners had left them. 

Rob smiled as he thought of the officers wait- 
ing within for the appearance of himself and 
companions, while he stationed himself so he 
could watch for them to appear, if they were in 
the house, as he believed. 

Fifteen minutes wore tediously away, and it 
was becoming too dark to distinguish an object 
very far away, when he saw two men leave the 
old red house. He had no doubt these were 
Stanyan and Hardy, a fact which was made con- 
clusive when he overheard the latter say: 

‘‘By jove, Stanyan! I wouldn’t stay there 


102 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


any longer for all the hoodlums of New York.” 

‘^So the old red house is haunted after all,” 
said the companion of the ’squire, and even in 
the darkness Rob could understand that the two 
men were greatly excited, if not frightened, over 
something they had seen or heard. 

‘‘Them sounds— sort of murder cries— sent 
the cold chills up my back,” acknowledged 
Hardy. “Come, Stanyan, it can’t be deacon 
has taken his tribe up this way, and we might 
as well go home. What an awful dark night it 
is getting to be.” 

“It must be the deacon took the tribe up to 
his house after all.” 

“They can’t be coming to Break O’ Day in 
this storm and darkness, but to make sure we 
had better go down the other way. It was a 
mistake we hadn’t come that way.” 

“Well, there is one thing certain, Stanyan, 
wherever they have gone to-night we’ll fix ’em 
to-morrow, eh? I’ll give a cool fifty dollars to 
outwit the rascally deacon in this matter now 
I have got started. ’ ’ 

“It is easy enough done, ’Squire. Wlioa, 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


103 


Tom! what in the world are you snorting at? 
You act just as if you had seen something in the 
brush, crouched lower to the ground, not daring 
‘^Perhaps he was asleep, and you scart him,’’ 
said ’Squire Hardy. 

Rob, who was concealed in the fringe of 
bush, crouched lower to the ground, not daring 
to breathe lest he should be discovered. 


CHAPTER XI. 

A CROWD AGAINST THREE BOYS. 

Rob, who was crouching in the bushes close 
by, dared not breathe lest he should be discov- 
ered by the sheriff, who came within easy reach 
of him.. But the sheriff’s search was short and 
made in such a blundering manner that he failed 
to discover our hero. 

‘^Come, Stanyan,” called out Hardy, ^ Vhat’s 
the use of stumbling ’round there in the wet 
bushes? We shall get soaking wet, and I am 
always liable to have an attack of the rheuma- 
tism when I get wet.” 

The ’squire was unhitching his horse, and a 
minute later Rob had the satisfaction of hearing 
the two riding away. 

^‘Good riddance !” said Rob under his breath, 
as he started to return to the coal-camps. 

104 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


105 


When Rob got back to the sod bouses con- 
taining bis friends be found the others anxiously 
awaiting him. A plain supper prepared after 
considerable trouble, there being only a couple 
of small pails in which to do the cooking, was 
ready to be eaten, and while our hero joined in 
with the others he told what he had seen and 
overheard at the old red house, excepting the 
statements of the two men in regard to the place 
being haunted. Rob was wise enough to believe 
that no good would come of mentioning such a 
fact, if it were true. 

After supper further preparations were made 
for the comfort, such as could be provided, of 
the two parties. The united numbers made 
fourteen persons in the little band of strangers 
in a strange land. These consisted of Robert 
Bayne, our hero, and his mother, a kind-hearted 
woman into whose life had seemed to come all 
the shadows and sufferings arising from the 
evil doings of a husband who was a fugitive 
from justice. It was not really known whether 
Bayne, the father, was living or not, but if he 
was there was a price set on his liberty, and his 


106 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


wife breathed easier in his absence than she 
could possibly have done knowing his where- 
abouts. Mrs. Bayne had pinned her faith to 
Rob, and hoped and looked forward to a future 
freer from care than her past twenty years had 
been. But in spite of her outward cheerfulness 
the shadow of the past still darkened her life. 

Then there were Mrs. Willet, the invalid 
widow, and her only daughter, Josephine, or 
Joe as she was generally called. Joe was one 
year younger than Rob, of a cheerful disposi- 
tion and a willing worker, with a judgment re- 
markable for one of her years. 

Mr. James Little, still suffering from an in- 
jury received when thrown from a heavy truck 
wagon in New York City, his wife Sarah, and 
their children, Lawrence and Mary, aged re- 
spectively eighteen and sixteen, made up an- 
other family. We shall soon learn more of 
them. 

A kind old lady was ‘‘Aunt Vinnie,” whose 
only care, and that was enough, was to look 
after her “boys” Tom and Jerry. The history 
of this three was quite unknown, except that 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


107 


Aunt Vinnie claimed the boys to be the children 
of a sister who had died when they were very 
young. They were twins. At some time the 
three must have had surnames, but none of their 
present companions had ever heard them 
spoken. 

Besides these were the three street waifs, who 
had been picked up and championed by Ragged 
Rob, Chick, Ruddy and Tony, whose ages ran 
from twelve to fourteen years, all of whom were 
far older in the varied experiences which come 
to such outcasts. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Little and Mrs. Willet 
were given the first attention, and they were 
made so comfortable that they slept for the most 
part of the night. The younger members, used 
to sleeping out of doors on the pavements, or at 
best under some box or wall, laid down on the 
earthen floor of these sod houses and soon fell 
into a refeshing sleep. But Rob and his mother 
did not seek sleep, while Aunt Vinnie and Mrs. 
Little only nodded at times. 

The rain cleared away before midnight, and 
the following morning the sun shone brightly, 


108 


BEEAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


and the clear, warm atmosphere of a spring day 
made the landscape beautiful and stirred the 
hearts of the lonely wayfarers with the spirit 
of good cheer. 

‘Isn’t this beautiful— delightful !” cried Joe 
Willet, clapping her hands in wild ecstacy of 
joy. “Look yonder, Rob ! did you ever see such 
lovely flowers?” pointing to some clumps of 
mountain laurels. “I can hardly stop to get 
breakfast before I pick some of them. Oh, I 
know we shall be so happy here; shan’t we, 
mother ? ’ ’ 

“I trust so, my child, ” and the mother did 
not dare to speak of the fear in her heart. 

“The country looks pretty, Joe,” replied 
Rob, ‘ ‘ and I hail it as a good sign that the storm 
has cleared away so soon. But I must look 
around a bit to see what we can do. I hope 
Deacon Cornhill will get here before long.’^ 

Now that it was daylight Rob saw that no 
signs of a dwelling was in sight. In fact it was 
as quiet, except for the songs of a few birds, as 
if they had been left in the heart of a great wil- 
derness. This seemed very strange for those 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


109 


who had come from the din, bustle and confu- 
sion of the great city. 

‘^We shall soon get used to it,’^ declared Rob. 

Mercy me!’’ exclaimed Aunt Vinnie, 
don’t b’lieve I ever can. And as for Tommy 
and Jerry, why they will go just wild.” 

After breakfast Rob and Larry went up to 
the old red house, but found no evidence that 
the building had been occupied for some time. 
It showed even worse ruin inside than it did 
outside. At places boards had been torn off, as 
if used for fuel, and few of the doors remained. 
As they passed from room to room the floor 
creaked dismally beneath their feet, while bats 
and birds flew about their heads, screaming out 
as if angry at this invasion of their domains. 

‘‘If we come here to live it will require lots 
of fixing up, ’ ’ said Rob. 

“I don’t care what ye think of it,” declared 
Larry, “but I jess feel like cutting off my big 
toe for coming up here into this dead man’s 
woods.” 

When the forenoon had passed without bring- 
ing the deacon to see them, Rob grew anxious 


110 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


and soon after dinner, accompanied by Chick 
and Rnddy, he started for Basinbnrg, hoping 
to meet their friend on the way. 

Finally they reached Basinbnrg without meet- 
ing any one. Rob was beginning to feel that 
there was something wrong in this non-appear- 
ance of Deacon Cornhill, and not having been 
to the latter’s house he was obliged to inquire 
of the first person they met how to reach his 
place. This individual proved to be a tall, slab- 
sided youth a little older than Rob, who eyed 
the other closely without replying to his ques- 
tion. 

“When you get done looking at us,” said Rob, 
^ ^ I shall be glad to have you tell me where Dea- 
con Cornhill lives.” 

“Reckon you’re some uv th’ tribe what came 
to town yesterday?” he ventured to question. 

“I shall be pleased to have you answer my 
question,” said Rob. 

“By gum! you’re cooners!” and he started 
on a run towards the village. 

“I should say you’re the biggest cooner!” 
muttered Rob, not liking the conduct of the 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Ill 


other. However, he kept on in the direction of 
the town, closely followed by Chick and Ruddy. 

The store and post office was soon seen, stand- 
ing in a little clump of buildings, and it was evi- 
dent that the tow-headed youth had spread the 
news of their coming, for a crowd was begin- 
ning to gather in front of the place. It required 
but a glance from Rob to see that the looks of 
this party boded him anything but good. 

Believing that it was best for him to put on 
a bold front and meet the men squarely in what- 
ever they should try to do, Rob showed no hesi- 
tation in his advance. 


CHAPTER XII. 


LITTLE HICKORY AROUSED. 

It was apparent from the looks of the specta- 
tors that they had anything bnt a friendly greet- 
ing for the new-comers. Among them Roh saw 
’Squire Hardy seated on a big box, closely 
watching their approach. A number of boys 
whose ages ranged from twelve to twenty years 
had hastily collected, and these pushed them- 
selves forward into the pathway of the three 
from Break O’ Day. 

One of these whom Rob was soon to learn was 
the son of ’Squire Hardy, immediately made 
himself prominent, saying in a sneering tone, 
as he pointed at Rob : 

^ ‘ Ain ’t he a pretty duck, boys ? ’ ’ 

‘H wish to ask where Deacon Cornhill lives,” 
said Rob, concealing his chagrin at the words of 
Ralph Hardy. 

His intended question was followed by a pain- 
ful silence, until the ’squire said : 

112 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS 


113 


‘‘Well, why don’t you ask your question and 
have done with it! I should think you would 
want to know the fix you have got the pious old 
deacon into. AYhose barn did you sleep in last 
night!” 

“Nobody’s barn, sir. Will you tell me where 
Deacon Cornhill lives!” 

At this point the ’squire held a hurried con- 
sultation with one of his companions without 
heeding the words of Rob. 

Not caring to have more to say to this crowd 
Rob started to go on up the village, when young 
Hardy stepped in front or him, saying: 

“You ain’t answered the old man’s question 
yet. Where ye’d stop last night!” 

“I do not know as that matters to you as 
long—” 

‘ ‘ Mean to sass me, do you ! ’ ’ demanded Ralph 
Hardy, doubling up his fist and acting as if he 
meant to fight. Half a dozen other boys, evi- 
dently thinking there was going to be some 
“fun” pressed forward closely upon his heels. 

By this time Rob and his companions were 


114 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


surrounded, so it looked as if they would have 
trouble before they could get away. 

''Punch him, Ralph; he’s nothing but a 
cooner ! ’ ’ called out the voice of the tow-headed 
youth from the rear. 

None of the men offered to stop the boys, but 
they watched the proceedings with evident 
pleasure. 

"I am not meddling with you; let me go,” 
said Rob. 

"You ain’t answered dad’s question. You 
can’t go till you have answered that, you New 
York hoodlum.” 

Though the words and tone of the speaker 
nettled Rob, he did not like to begin a quarrel 
there, which he knew would likely work against 
him whatever the immediate result, so he 
started to move away without paying further 
heed to the pugilistic young Hardy. 

At that moment some one threw a ball of mud 
which struck him upon the cheek, where the 
most of it stuck until he had wiped it away. 

At this loud laughter, in which the men joined, 
rang tauntingly in his ears. 


BREAK 0 ^ DAY BOYS. 


115 


‘‘Looks well!” cried one of the spectators. 
“Let me see if I can’t fix the other cheek like 
it,” and a second mnd-ball struck Rob in the 
face, the moist dirt filling one eye so that he 
could not see plainly with it. Abused nature 
could stand no more, and Little Hickory was 
aroused. As soon as he could make himself 
heard for the loud huzzas that followed this last 
insult, he said in a tone that showed he was in 
earnest : 

“Stand aside, sir, and let me pass.” 

‘ ‘ Lay so much as a finger on me if you dare ! ’ ’ 
replied Ralph Hardy, without offering to let 
him pass. “I stump you to touch me.” 

‘ ‘ I don ’t want any trouble with you, ’ ’ replied 
Rob. “We came here peacefully, and it is you 
who are making the fuss.” 

“You lie!” exclaimed young Hardy, shaking 
his fist in Little Hickory’s face, “and you 
daresn’t say you don’t.” 

“If it was you alone and myself I’d make you 
eat ’em words,” retorted Rob, his face now 
showing his righteous anger, while he continued 
to advance. 


116 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


^‘You’re a sneaking, low-lived, dirt-covered 
hoodlum of the alleys of New York, and you 
have no business—” 

Ralph Hardy had got so far, when flourishing 
his fist in the face of Little Hickory he hit him 
plump on the nose. 

It is doubtful if young Hardy had really in- 
tended to strike Rob, as it was his purpose to 
make the latter begin the fight if he could, and 
the blow was not a severe one. But coupled 
with what had been said it was more than the 
undaunted Little Hickory could bear, and he 
caught the surprised bully by the waist with a 
strength which enabled him to lift the other 
clear from the ground. 

Just how it was done none of the spectators 
could say, but they saw ’Squire Hardy’s son 
describing a circle in the air, and then he was 
carried upward until he fell sprawling in the . 
midst of a big mud puddle half a rod away. 

‘‘Hooray!” cried Chick, who, with Ruddy, 
had been an anxious witness of the preceding 
scene, but his cry was drowned by the uproar 
coming from the crowd of men and boys. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


117 


‘^He’s killed Ralph shouted ’Squire Hardy. 
‘ ‘ Take him, boys ! ” 

The onlookers immediately made a rush for 
the intrepid youth and his two companions. 

For a moment it looked as though Rob would 
be torn limb from limb, but in order to do that it 
was first necessary to catch him. 

If Little Hickory did not possess a pair of 
light feet he did own u pair of strong arms. 

The first boy to reach him after Ralph shared 
the fate of the other. The next was sent head- 
long to the ground at the foot of the steps lead- 
ing to the store. 

By this time some of the crowd had rushed 
upon the rear, to be met by Chick and Ruddy. 
This twain if small proved themselves to be 
worthy of their leader. The first boy to feel 
their furious resistance was the tow-headed 
youth already mentioned, and he was doubled 
to the earth by their united efforts. Then they 
came in pairs, and so thick and fast that the 
doughty Chick and Ruddy soon found more on 
their hands than they could well handle. 

Finding himself so hard pressed that he was 


118 


BEEAKO’ DAY BOYS. 


likely to be borne to the ground— crushed by an 
overwhelming power, Chick nimbly climbed the 
tall figure of a stalwart young man, where he 
perched himself on his shoulders, keeping his 
position in spite of the efforts of the other to 
shake him off. 

Buddy was scarcely less nimble, and finding 
himself beset by so many enemies that he could 
not hold his own, dodged between the legs of 
the nearest, sending him heels over head to the 
ground. 

A second shared this fate, and by dodging to 
and fro, squirming like an eel as he passed one 
after another of the excited assailants. Buddy 
reached the outskirts of the crowd. 

He might have easily escaped then, but see- 
ing the desperate situation of Bob, to say noth- 
ing of Chick, he sprang back to the fight like a 
little game-cock that never knows when it is get- 
ting the worst of it. 

Assailed upon every hand Little Hickory, in 
spite of the valiant battle he was waging, sorely 
needed whatever assistance he could have. Be- 
gardless of what might follow, in his excitement 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


119 


and awakened determination to win at any cost, 
he sent his enemies reeling backward on either 
hand, fairly forcing his way through the crowd. 

Don’t let the hoodlums get away!” cried 
’Squire Hardy, hurrying forward to join in the 
fray if necessary. ‘‘He’s killed Ralph!” 

This announcement was enough to cause the 
men to take a hand in the affray, and they 
rushed into the exciting scene just as Rob had 
finally succeeded in reaching the side of Ruddy. 

At that moment some one threw a stone the 
size of a man’s fist, and the missile striking 
Little Hickory he fell to the ground with a low 
cry of pain. 

“They’ve killed Rob!” cried Ruddy. “I’ll 
kill the hull scab of ’em ! ’ ’ 

Catching up a handful of stones that lay only 
too handy for him, he began to hurl them into 
the midst of the crowd, which so frightened the 
men and boys that a hasty retreat was begun. 

Crash went a pane of glass where one of the 
rocks went hurling through the store window, 
followed by a series of wild cries. 

“Look out for the little devil or he’ll kill—” 


CHAPTER XIII. 


AN UNEXPECTED CHAMPION. 

As Ruddy raised his right arm over his head 
to throw the missile which might have struck 
some one with deadly effect, a clear, sharp voice 
rang out over the startling scene, quickly end- 
ing the outbreak : 

‘^Hold, boy! don’t you throw that stone or I 
will horsewhip you within an inch of your life.” 

The first word had been sufficient to check the 
rash boy in his dangerous work, when he turned 
hastily about to find a man had ridden close to 
the edge of the crowd, and standing up in his 
carriage held a long, stout whip poised over his 
head ready to send its stinging lash around his 
body did he fail to obey him. 

^‘What is all this rumpus about?” demanded 
this new-comer, who instantly made himself 
master of the situation. 


3 20 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


121 


These youngsters are raising particular cain 
with our boys, Dr. Menter. I don’t know but 
they have killed Ralph,” said ’Squire Hardy. 

Looks as though your hoy was coming out of 
it better than this fellow with the bleeding 
head, ’ ’ replied the man in the carriage, who was 
the village physician, beginning to step out upon 
the ground. 

Ruddy had dropped the rocks in his hand and 
stood with looks of combined fear and wonder. 
Chick had already dropped from his perch on 
a man’s shoulders and sought the side of Ruddy. 

hope he has been killed,” declared the 
’squire, 

‘^Look out what you say, ’Squire Hardy, for 
such words as those might make you trouble and 
be inconvenient to explain in a court-room.” 

‘‘So you stand up for the hoodlum, do you, 
doctor?” 

“No, sir; I simply speak for fair play. It was 
a coward who threw that stone, and he has him- 
self laid open to the law and a serious punish- 
ment if this boy has been fatally injured.” 


122 


BREAK 0 ^ DAY BOYS. 


began the quarrel, and it was done in 
self-defense. ’ ’ 

‘‘Let me advise you as a friend, ^squire, not 
to say too much. I will see if the boy is seri- 
ously hurt.’’ 

While the other muttered something under his 
breath, Dr. Menter knelt beside Rob, to make au 
examination of his wound. This was found not 
to be of a serious nature, and in a few minutes 
our hero was able to sit up. 

“You’ll come out all right, youngster,” said 
the physician, “but it came pretty near being 
a close call.” 

Upon finding that no one had been killed the 
spectators, who had been rather frightened 
over the outcome of the atfair, a little while be- 
fore, now boldly stepped forward. 

“Stand back,” ordered Dr. Menter. “The 
boy is coming round all right, and there is no 
need of crowding upon us so.” 

“Perhaps you have not heard who this fellow 
is, doctor,” said the ’squire, determined to fol- 
low up his side of the question. “He belongs 
to a herd of cattle the demented Deacon Corn- 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


123 


hill brought into our midst from the slums of 
New York.’’ 

^ ‘ The deacon has told me of his colonization 
scheme,” replied the doctor, smiling. ‘‘But I 
am afraid he will never see it carried out.” 

“You are right there. We are not going to 
let them stay in town any longer than it takes 
to get them out.” 

“I do not believe you understand me, ’squire. 
The deacon took a sudden cold in the rain yes- 
terday and is sick in bed threatened with pneu- 
monia.” 

As this was a bit of startling news to the spec- 
tators one and all showed considerable concern. 

“No business to have been fooling round with 
sich critters in the rain. He’d been all right 
if he’d gone right home,” declared the unfeel- 
ing ’squire. 

“I can’t say about that, but he is a very sick 
man. There, T guess you will come out in good 
shape, ’ ’ said the physician to Rob, as he placed 
a plaster over the cut the latter had received on 
his head. 

“Thank you, sir. I come down to the town 


124 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


to see Deacon Cornhill,’’ said Rob. do not 
know what I shall do if he is sick.’’ 

^^He certainly cannot do anything for yon 
now. Still if yon want to go np to the honse 
yon can ride with me. I am going right back 
as soon as I can go to the post-office.” 

Rob thanked the physician, who seemed like 
an honest man, and conclnded to accept his of- 
fer. Chick and Rnddy he advised to go back to 
Break 0’ Day. The crowd continned to scowl 
npon them, bnt the fact that Dr. Menter had 
spoken in their behalf kept any one, even 
’Sqnire Hardy from nttering any farther 
threats against them at that time. 

On the way to the home of Deacon Cornhill 
the doctor qnestioned Rob closely in regard to 
his sitnation, when onr hero frankly explained 
the matter from the time he had met Mr. Corn- 
hill in New York. 

am afraid yon can’t do mnch,” said Dr. 
Menter, frankly, as Rob conclnded. ^^Yon do 
not seem to have anything to do with. Besides 
I shonld jndge that yon mnst all have a very 
slight idea of getting a living in the country. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


125 


You say you want to cultivate the land at Break 
0’ Day. What do you know about taking care 
of crops!’’ 

Rob had to confess that he and his associates 
knew nothing. In fact he realized more than he 
had ever before the peculiar helplessness of 
himself and companions. 

‘‘The best thing you can do is to go back to 
the city,” said the doctor. 

“We haven’t the money to do it,” acknowl 
edged Rob. “All together we cannot raise a 
dime.” 

The doctor whistled. 

“How do you think you are going to live 
here! Had the deacon promised you any 
money!” 

“No, sir; but he thought we could get work. 
We are willing to try our best.” 

“It would be surprising if you all felt that 
way. I should judge a crowd picked up in the 
way yours was would have at least some who 
would be dead-heads on the hands of the others. 
You say there are several among you who are 
unable to work if they wished.” 


126 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


faltered Rob, for the first time los- 
ing courage. Somehow the candid words of 
Dr. Menter struck to his heart as nothing said 
by others had done. 

‘‘Do you know what I think*?’’ 

“That we made a mistake in coming.” 

“Worse than that, young man. The deacon 
is famous for his foolish schemes, and that this 
caps the climax. No other man in town would 
have gone good for Jonas Lyford, and with the 
prospect of paying up another man’s debt 
which is likely to take all he is worth, I should 
have thought Deacon Cornhill would have felt 
like letting you and your companions alone. ’ ’ 

“We shall not make Mr. Cornhill any extra 
trouble, sir.” 

“The safest way for you to make good your 
words will be by leaving town at once. I can 
see that you have created an unfavorable im- 
pression already. Still I feel very sure that 
money enough to pay your fare to the city will 
be forthcoming if you conclude to go. I will 
give five dollars towards it myself.” 

“You are very kind, sir.” 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


127 


‘‘You think you will goT’ 

Rob hesitated a moment before replying, but 
there was no mistaking bis meaning when be 
spoke, low but firmly: 

“I can’t answer for my friends, but I have 
come to stay.” 


CHAPTER XIY. 


A WKITTEN NOTICE. 

Dr. Menter made no reply to Rob ’s last state- 
ment, bnt a few minutes later, as he turned his 
horse into the drive-way leading to a comfor- 
table-looking, old-fashioned two-storied house, 
he said: 

^ ^ This is where the deacon lives. He is so sick 
I do not believe he will care to see you, so you 
had better remain in my carriage until T have 
come out. I will say to him that you have 
come. ’ ^ 

Rob could do no better than to take up with 
this advice, though the time hung heavily on his 
hands until the physician re-appeared. 

‘H have spoken to the deacon about you, and 
he seems greatly concerned over your welfare. 
I could not think of letting you see him in his 
present state. But, as your condition is such 


128 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


129 


that something has got to be done at once, I will 
act for him a few days, until we can see how he 
gets along. Now say to me just what you have 
come here to say to him.’’ 

^ ‘ I am sorry Deacon Cornhill is so sick, ’ ’ said 
Rob. ^‘Is there nothing I can do for him!” 

‘‘You show a pretty unselfish spirit to think 
of some one else before yourself, considering 
the hopeless situation you are in. I do not 
think you can do anything for the deacon at 
present. Is there anything I can do for you?” 

“We need tools, sir, to begin work on the 
land, and we want to find chances to work so we 
can earn money. ’ ’ 

“Now you talk business. In regard to the 
first matter, I shall take the liberty to borrow 
of the deacon for you. In the second case I have 
got to do a little thinking. How many of you 
wish places, and what can you do?” 

“There is Larry Little; he’s eighteen and 
stout to do anything he ^nows about. Then 
there are Tom and Jerry, younger than he is, 
but they could do chores. Besides ’em there is 
myself, who is willing to try anything.” 


130 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


‘‘None of jon can know much about farm 
work. But I will see in a little while. First I 
will look after those tools, and I will take them 
along with you as far as I am going.” 

Dr. Menter, who was considerable of a 
farmer himself, having spent his boyhood on a 
farm, went into Deacon Cornhill’s tool house, 
soon coming out with two shovels, two hoes, an 
ax, and a pick-ax. 

“These will be enough for you to begin with,” 
he said, with a smile as he placed them in his 
carriage. 

As has been shown there were two roads lead- 
ing to Break 0 ’ Day, and as Dr. Menter had an- 
other patient to visit in the west part of the 
town he advised Rob to ride with him in that 
direction and after leaving him to take what was 
called “The Flying Jump” road to Break O’ 
Day. On the way the physician explained to 
Rob considerable about farming, and told him 
how to begin by spading up the ground ready 
for planting. 

“Select the level places between the ridges 
and the hollows where the soil is richer and 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


131 


deeper. There is some good land on Break 0’ 
Day^ but there is more that is poor, either sandy 
or rocky. Let me advise you not to dig any- 
where the grass won’t grow.” 

So Rob went back to his humble home by the 
same road that ’Squire Hardy and Sheriff Stan- 
yan had taken in going to Break 0’ Day. He 
found his mother and friends anxiously await- 
ing his coming, excepting Chick and Ruddy who 
had not returned. 

Rob gave as encouraging an account of his 
visit to the village as he could, and as he dis- 
played the tools he had brought with which to 
begin work there was a curious examination 
made and many utterances of surprise which 
must have sounded ridiculous to the farming 
population of Basinburg. But it must be re- 
membered that none of the younger members 
of the party had ever seen anything of the kind, 
or had the remotest idea of the uses to which 
they could be applied. Even Rob, who had lis- 
tened attentively to what Dr. Menter had said, 
could not give any very clear explanation. 

He believed the best illustration he could give 


132 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


was to put them to use, and he at once looked 
about for the most suitable place to begin his 
farming! 

‘‘ Come, Larry, here is a shovel for you. Tom 
and Jerry can each use a hoe.” 

‘^Oh, my! won’t that be fun?” cried the 
latter. 

It was not surprising that the girls and even 
Mrs. Willet and Aunt Vinnie came out to wit- 
ness the ‘‘breaking of the sod” for the new life. 

But strange tools in new hands become awk- 
ward, and at the very outset Larry blundered 
and fell in a heap amid the clapping of hands 
and merry peals of laughter from his compan- 
ions. 

Picking himself up rather crestfallen Larry 
went at his task more judiciously that at first, 
so that in a few minutes he was doing nearly as 
well as Rob. 

But it was hard work for these green hands, 
and though Little Hickory stuck to his task with 
commendable perseverance Larry soon tired of 
it. Tom and Jerry had gone off to chase a bird, 
and he could not see why he should toil so while 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


133 


the others were enjoying themselves, so he 
threw his shovel into the bushes and followed 
after his younger companions. 

Rob said nothing, keeping steadily at his 
work, soon turning over a good square sod. 

Joe Willet having seen where Larry had 
flung his shovel went and got the tool, to begin 
herself to imitate Rob with a heart of good will. 

‘^Stop, Joe!^’ said Rob, ‘‘this is no work for 
girls to do. There are enough of us boys to do 
this.’’ 

‘ ‘ I wish I was a boy so I could, ’ ’ sh‘e said. ‘ ‘ A 
girl does not seem to amount to much out here. 
I am afraid—” 

“You’re afraid of nothing, Joe. There is 
enough for you to do in the house.” 

“I am afraid Larry does not like to work so 
well as you do, Rob.” 

“P’raps he’ll do better next time, Joe. I did 
not want to scold him the first time. I don ’t see 
where Chick and Ruddy are. I’m more anxious 
about ’em.” 

This anxiety on the part of Rob increased as 
the afternoon wore away without seeing the re- 


134 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


turn of the two boys, and just as the sun was 
sinking below the tree-tops on the west Rob 
shouldered his shovel and started towards the 
coal-camps with his companions, resolved to go 
in search of the missing ones. 

You hi have supper first, said his mother. 
^^It is ready, and you must be tired.’’ 

Rob could not deny this, though he said 
nothing about his aches and pains as he seated 
himself upon a rock to eat his plain supper of 
salt pork and brown bread from a piece of hem- 
lock bark that he had picked up for a plate. 
Everything was in keeping with this forlorn 
condition, and to add to its dreary aspect his 
mother said: 

‘‘I don’t know what we shall do to-morrow, 
Rob, as there is not enough for all of us to live 
upon until the next day.” 

‘‘I shall—” 

‘‘Here comes some gemmens in a wagon!” 
cried Tony, running into the place at that mo- 
ment. 

Rob looked out to see a horse and wagon, the 
lattei* containing three men drawn up in front 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


135 


of tlieir home. That they boded him evil he was 
aware from the fact that one of the trio was 
’Squire Hardy. 

^ ‘ So this is where you have landed, ’ ’ said the 
latter. 

Rob made no reply, while he saw the other 
men get out of the wagon, and begin to drive 
a stake in front of the coal-camp, dealing 
lusty blows with an ax as the piece of wood sank 
deep into the earth. AYhen this had become 
firmly set they produced a sheet of paper which 
Rob could see was covered with writing, and 
tacked it upon a strip of board, that was in turn 
nailed to the upright. 

‘AVhat does this mean!” demanded Rob. 

^‘Read for yourself, you New York vagrant,” 
cried ’Squire Hardy, ^^and see if you will dare 
to defy the law any longer. ’ ’ 

‘Ht is quite likely he cannot read,” said one 
of the other men, with a look around the scene. 

‘^Well, read it to him and his precious 
brood,” snapped the ’squire. 


CHAPTER XV. 


DEFYING A TIGER. 

‘‘It is a notice for you and your crowd to 
leave the town within twenty-four hours,” re- 
plied the man addressed, pointing to the paper 
he had just helped affix to the stake. 

“And it is signed by these gentlemen, who 
are two of the selectmen of the town,” added 
’Squire Hardy, triumphantly. “Now I guess 
you’ll get. If you don’t the worst’ll be your 
own. We’ll show you that New York can’t 
dump her slums here.” 

Rob offered no reply, and without further 
words the three men rode away, leaving a 
frightened and anxious group behind them. 

“Oh, Rob!” cried Mrs. Bayne, “what shall 
we do? What shall we do?” 

“Oh, why did we ever leave the city?” 
moaned Aunt Vinnie. “Why weren’t we sat- 
isfied with what we had ? ’ ’ 


136 



“Good,” exclaimed the spokesman of the twain, “ye act like 
a sensible chap.” 


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BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


137 


^^Aunt Vinnie,’’ said Joe, stoutly, ‘‘I wouldn’t 
go back to the city for all it holds. They can’t 
kill us, and we’ll get our living here somehow, 
won’t we, Rob!” 

“To be sure we will, Joe. Have courage, 
mother. Do not let ’em scare you, and they 
won’t be able to drive you. I wish I knew 
where Chick and Ruddy are. ’ ’ 

“What shall we do!” moaned Aunt Vinnie. 
‘ ‘ This terrible country will be the death of us. ’ ’ 

While Rob was more concerned over the out- 
come of this last movement on the part of his 
enemy, he tried to appear cheerful, saying: 

“They will not touch us for at least another 
day, and sometimes great things happen in 
twenty-four hours. Just now I am more anxi- 
ous about Chick and Ruddy. I am afraid some- 
thing has happened to ’em. I must go to the 
village again.” 

“Let Larry go with you,” said Joe. 

“You need him here more than I do. Never 
fear for me, Joe. I had hoped we might have 
got a better house to stop in before night, but 
the deacon being sick has put us all back. But 


138 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


as soon as he is well we shall get ahead in shin- 
ing shape. 

With these hopeful words Rob started toward 
Basinbnrg village to find Chick and Ruddy if 
possible. Knowing that they had intended' to 
come home by the east road he followed that 
way, and so rapidly did he walk, it being all 
down grade going that way, that in the course 
of half an hour he got nearly down to the vil- 
lage. 

He had been disappointed in not meeting the 
boys, as he had hoped, and becoming more 
alarmed than ever over their strange non-ap- 
pearance, he kept on toward the village. 

Presently the houses on the distant hillside 
could be seen, and he came in sight then of the 
little collection forming the nucleus of Basin- 
burg, Captain Jarvis’s store, where the post- 
office was kept, forming the most conspicuous 
building. 

Quite a crowd had gathered about this place, 
and the men seemed to be discussing some sub- 
ject in an excited manner. 

Fearless of any harm to himself Rob boldly 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


139 


approached the group, with his eyes and ears 
open for whatever might happen. At first no 
one noticed him, so that he had got almost into 
the midst of the crowd before the friend of 
’Squire Hardy called Trask exclaimed: 

‘‘Hi, youngster! If ye ain’t a brazen chap I’ll 
hoe taters for the deacon a week fer nothing, 
and that’s the pizenest thing I could think of 
doing. ’ ’ 

Rob made no reply to this rude speech, but 
approached nearer the throng to find that 
neither he nor his friends, as he had half-ex- 
pected at first, furnished the topic under dis- 
cussion. 

“They ain’t far away, that’s certain, and 
somebody will run ercross them kerslap like in 
a way that’ll make their hair stand on end. 
Sich critters ain’t forgot their ’arly ways if 
they have been under subject for a while. 

“That’s so, Dan,” said another. “Hilloa!” 
catching sight of our hero, “if here ain’t a tiger 
o’ different sort. What has brought you to 
town now ? ’ ’ 

“He’s come to look over the place to see 


140 


BEEAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


where to begin his thieving,” spoke up some 
one in the background. 

Unheeding this speech Eob said: 

‘‘lam looking for the boys who were with me 
this morning. Perhaps some of you can tell me 
if you have seen them.” 

“Do you mean the red-headed youngster with 
the freckled face and the peart little bantam 
with him?” 

“I mean Euddy and Chick. Euddy has got 
red hair.” 

“Well, I guess we can tell what has become of 
them, can’t we, Jones?” speaking to a compan- 
ion. “If we can’t Jackson, the chairman of the 
selectmen, can.” 

Eestraining his vexation at this bit of inso- 
lence, Eob said in an even tone : 

“As you seem to know I wish you would tell 
me so as to save me further trouble.” 

“I reckon they are down to the county farm 
by this time, seeing Bagley has got a good boss 
and he wouldn’t be likely to let any grass grow 
in the road with sich company,” which speech 
was greeted by a cheer from the spectators. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


141 


At a loss how to act under the oppression of 
such an announcement Rob was slient. Then a 
commotion a short distance away caught the at- 
tention of all. A new-comer was saying : 

‘‘A part of the children have got home, but 
the doctor’s girl and boy, with two others went 
over on Sander’s hill and have not been seen 
since two o ’clock. Some see them tigers up that 
way so the doctor and his family are scart to 
death over the children.” 

‘ ‘ Come on, boys ! ’ ’ called out one of the spec- 
tators, ^ Ve must hunt ’em up. Get your guns 
and come on!” 

In a moment Rob learned that all this excite- 
ment was occasioned by the escape of a couple 
of tigers from a menagerie the day before, the 
animals having been seen in that vicinity within 
a few hours. The danger to the missing chil- 
dren was apparent to every one. If they had 
not already met the ferocious beasts they were 
likely to do so at any moment. 

But Rob felt that he had as much trouble on 
hand as he could meet at present, and after sat- 
isfying himself that Chick and Ruddy had act- 


142 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


ually been taken to tbe connty farm, he started 
homeward with a heavy heart. 

About half a mile out of the village, where 
the road entered the woods at the foot of Break 
0’ Day hill, he was startled at first by the wild, 
incoherent cries of a man, who seemed to be 
running toward him at a furious gait. 

He had only to wait a moment before the 
frightened person burst into sight, hatless and 
coatless, his face as white as a sheet while he 
came down the road running for dear life. 

‘‘What is itr^ asked Rob, as he came nearer. 

“The— the— tig— er! he’s killed the children 
and eaten ’em up!” 

“Where are they?” 

“Down in the clearing back—” 

That was all Rob could catch, for the terrified 
wretch had not stopped in his wild flight, but 
was speeding on toward the village as if a hun- 
dred wild tigers were at his heels. 

Without stopping to think of what the conse- 
quence might be to him, Rob bounded toward a 
clearing off on his right and which entered the 
woods like a huge wedge driven in from the 
open country. 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


143 


He had not gone half a dozen rods before a 
shrill scream in a childish voice reached his 
ears. 

He knew then he was going in the right direc- 
tion. 

A moment later he saw a sight which fairly 
froze the blood in his veins. 

A short distance below him was a little group 
of children who had been gathering may-flow- 
ers, while crouching near them, where it had 
crept with the cunning and stealthiness peculiar 
to its race, was a huge tiger ! 

The cry of the frightened boys and girls had 
suddenly aroused its rage, and lashing the 
ground with its long tail, the infuriated brute 
was ready to spring upon its prey. 

It was a situation where a moment’s time 
means a life. Unarmed, as he was. Little Hick- 
ory could not stand idle while others were in 
such deadly peril. 

Regardless of what the result might bring 
him, he picked up a small rock at his feet, and 
hurled it with all the force he could muster 
straight toward the springing tiger ! ^ 


CHAPTER XVL 


A TUSSLE WITH A TIGER. 

So well did Rob throw the stone that it struck 
the crouching tiger upon the back, when the 
brute uttered a fierce growl, which brought an- 
other scream from the frightened children that 
were clinging to each other a few feet away. 

Fearing that his first shot had not drawn the 
attention from its intended victims. Little Hick- 
ory poised a second stone, sending it with such 
precision that it fell between the animaPs ears 
with a resounding thwack. 

Another shriek from the surprised tiger rang 
out, louder and fiercer than the first, when the 
creature wheeled furiously about to see who this* 
assailant from its rear might be. 

Rob had picked up another stone, and as the 
maddened beast faced him he threw it with all 
the power he could command. 

But this time he missed his target, though the 

144 . 


BEEAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


145 


tiger gave vent to its rage in another howl of 
anger, and whipped the ground with its long 
tail. 

Eob now realized that the situation was a des- 
perate one. The aroused brute was preparing 
to attack him, and in a hand-to-hand battle with 
the terrific animal he must be torn limb from 
limb. 

Again he snatched up a stone, and hurled it 
with such unerring aim that it fell squarely 
upon the tiger nose. But this fusillade, in- 
stead of checking the on-set of the brute, served 
to awaken its furious nature, and with another 
growl it leaped into the air, its forepaws out- 
stretched to grapple with him, while its white 
teeth gleamed fiercely in the gathering gloom of 
the evening. 

If Little Hickory had not possessed uncom- 
mon nerve and agility his career must have 
ended then and there, for there was deadly 
earnestness in this attack of the tiger, all of 
whose native ferocity had been awakened. 

But never losing his presence of mind, Eob 
watched the movements of the angry beast in- 


146 


BEEAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


tently, and as its body darkened the air he 
sprang nimbly aside, so it just grazed his body 
to fall a couple of yards away sprawling on 
the greensward. 

Knowing that the battle had but just begun, 
and to run away would be to incur certain death 
from the brute. Little Hickory quickly faced the 
animal, looking it squarely in the eye, while 
he slowly advanced instead of retreating. 

The tiger showed that this bold defiance puz- 
zled it if it did not for the time hold in check its 
wild passions. With a prolonged growl it 
crouched lower to the earth, and while its tail 
described circle after circle in the air, it watched 
intently the youth who fairly held it at bay by 
his superhuman bravery. 

Still Little Hickory knew there must be a 
change in this situation before long. It seemed 
only a matter of how long he could hold the an- 
imal at bay. He had heard cries from the chil- 
dren, and he judged by such sounds as he had 
heard that they were fleeing from the place. 
Of course, it would not do for him to look 
around, or even to speak. 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


147 


In the midst of this suspense a loud, com- 
manding voice fell on the scene, and the words 
of the tiger’s keeper rang out clearly on the si- 
lence of the startling tableau : 

“Back, Leo! lie still!” 

The tiger growled low and sullen, while its 
glaring eyes shifted from Rob to this new- 
comer, who had approached swiftly and silently 
to the spot, unseen and unheard by both our 
hero and the brute before him. 

“Step aside, young man, but do not let your 
eyes leave him, ’ ’ said the man. ^ ‘ I think I can 
manage him now. Down, Leo, down!” 

Rob gladly moved backward, and at the same 
time the keeper, who carried in his hand a stout, 
heavy whip, advanced, repeating his command 
to the tiger. 

The creature was in too ill humor to obey 
willingly. Perhaps the short period of freedom 
he had enjoyed had made him unwilling to 
return to his captivity At any rate, he con- 
tinued to lash himself into a rage, while the 
keeper slowly moved nearer. 

“Back, Leo! back!” commanded the latter. 


148 


BEEAKO’ DAY BOYS. 


and to give greater impressiveness to his \rords 
he brought his heavy whip smartly abont the 
body of the tiger. 

The beast uttered a terrific growl, and as if 
goaded to desperation leaped straight at the 
throat of his one-time conquerer. 

The spell of subjection was broken. Once 
more the wild, untamed and untamable spirit 
of’ the jungle asserted itself. The stern com- 
mand, the crack of the whip, the hashing eye 
had no longer any terror for the aroused brute, 
and he cared only to devour his whilom master. 

Little Hickory felt greater fear in witnessing 
this attack on his deliverer than when he had 
himself faced the angry creature. But the sus- 
pense was of short duration this time. 

A quick movement of the right hand on the 
part of the keeper, the flash of powder, and the 
report of a firearm were closely followed by 
the death-cry of the doomed tiger, whose last 
leap ended with his frantic dying struggle: 

‘Ht was too bad, too bad,” declared the man, 
as he watched the futile efforts of the brute to 
regain his feet. ‘‘He was a valuable animal. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


149 


but it was his life or mine, and mine was worth 
more to me.’’ 

“I was beginning to think it would be my 
life,” said Rob, ‘‘but you came in good season.” 

“Ay, lad, you were in a tight box, but you 
showed true grit. Do you know, young fellow, 
there ain’t one in ten thousand who could have 
stood up there as you did. I saw it all, but I 
knew it would precipitate a crisis if I made a 
move before I was near enough to hope for an 
effect. Say, if you will go with me I will guar- 
antee you a position where you can earn good 
money and a good sized pile of it. What do 
you say!” 

‘ ‘ I thank you, sir, but I cannot leave to do it. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ It will pay you. WThat do you say to a thou- 
sand a year to begin with?” 

“I shall have to say no, sir. I wonder what 
became of those children.” 

“They have reached the village by this time. 
Ha! there come some of the town’s people, and 
I’ll warrant they will give you a kind word. 
You deserve it.” 

Without knowing what reply to make Rob 


150 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


watched in silence the approach of the party 
from the village, among whom he saw Dr. Men- 
ter and ’Squire Hardy. 

‘‘Come right along and have no fear, gen- 
tlemen,” said the voluble keeper. “The crea- 
ture is powerless to harm you now.” 

The relief of the new-comers was shown by 
their actions as well as words, and when the 
slayer of the tiger came to describe how Rob 
had saved the lives of the children, one at least 
in the crowd was warm in his praise. 

That person was Dr. Menter, whose children 
had been among those saved, and he grasped 
Rob’s hand, saying fervently: 

“Young man, I thank you from the depths 
of my heart. If you will come down to the house 
Mrs. Menter will join her thanksgiving with 
mine. You have done us a favor today which 
will take more than money to repay.” 

As these were the first really kind words Rob 
had heard since coming into Basinburg they 
gladdened his heart with uncommon joy, but 
he was too anxious to get home to accept Dr. 
Menter ’s urgent request to go home with him. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


151 


During this brief conversation Rob knew that 
the ’squire was watching them with baleful eyes, 
and when he started homeward, leaving the 
crowd still standing about the body of the dead 
tiger, he knew the other was glad of his rid- 
dance. He heard Dr. Menter say: 

“Give that boy a chance and he will make 
a smart man.” 

’Squire Hardy lost no time in replying: 

“All rogues and cut-throats possess smart- 
ness. I am surprised, doctor—” 

The rest was lost by Rob, nor did he hear the 
next remark of the physician, as he hastened 
on his way toward Break o’ Day. 

He had got about half way home, when he 
was surprised by a shuffling sound in the 
bushes by the roadside. His mind still alive to 
tiger fights, his first thought was naturally of 
such animals, and he looked about for some 
means of self-defence. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A FRIENDLY CALLER. 

At his second glance Rob caught sight of a 
boyish figure skulking in the growth, and rec- 
ognizing a familiar figure he called out : 

^‘Hilloa! is that you, Chick!’’ 

‘ ^ Shades of Cherry Corner ! ’ ’ replied the well- 
known voice of that boy, ‘4t’s Little Hickory, 
Ruddy!” 

The next moment the twain bounded head- 
first out into the road, Chick falling headlong 
in the middle of the highway. 

Where in the world have you come from!” 
asked Rob. ‘ ‘ They told me you had been taken 
to the county farm.” 

‘Mess shows how the lunkheads were mistook. 
It’ll take a smarter gump ’n that countryman 
to get us there, eh. Ruddy!” 

152 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


153 


^‘Then they did try to take you there T’ 

‘^Ye jess lay your bottom rock on that, old 
Hick. But me and Ruddy ain’t in fer no county 
farm— not yet!” 

On being questioned more closely the two con- 
fessed that they had been started for the county 
farm, but that before reaching the place they 
had jumped from the wagon and managed to 
escape their guard. 

Golly gee!” exclaimed Ruddy, laughing till 
it seemed as if he would never stop, ‘‘we pur- 
tended to be awful green, and we got the old 
duffer to tell erbout everything we see. This 
tickled him to think he knowed so much more’n 
we did, and, by hookey! he’d stop to s ’plain so 
much that we got tired.. Then, when he come 
to magnify the beauty of some birds so black 
and homely as to make yer laugh, we skid out ! 
Shouldn’t be s ’prised if the old feller is there 
now a-chinning on ’em.” 

While Little Hickory realized that this turn 
in affairs might not prove to their advantage 
in the end, he was secretly glad that his com- 
panions had escaped, and the journey to Break 


154 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


o’ Day was continued with a lighter heart than 
he had known since coming into this region. 
Somehow he felt that his adventure with the 
tiger was likely to redound to his good. 

It must be understood that it was already 
dark, and by the time the coal-camps were 
reached it was well into the evening. They 
found their coming anxiously awaited by their 
friends, and their stories found eager and 
pleased listeners. 

‘‘What a hero you are getting to be, Rob,” 
said Joe, proudly. “I guess they’ll think you 
are somebody soon.” 

“But think of the narrow place he was in,” 
said Rob’s mother. “I tremble all over now to 
think of it.” 

“Let it pass, mother. I do not think I shall 
lose anything by it. At any rate I feel better 
than I didVhen I started down to the town, and 
I am going to look for better times.” 

Rob’s hopefulness afforded comfort to the 
others, and the next morning found them all 
more light-hearted than they had been before 
in spite of the ominous notice at their door. 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


155 


‘‘IVe a mind to tear it down,” said Larry. 

‘^Better save your strength to work that 
shovel in the §od, Larry,” said Rob with a 
laugh. ‘‘You know yesterday—” 

“I’m sore and lame now so I— hilloa! what’s 
up?” 

The exclamation was caused by the sudden 
appearance of Tom and Jerry, who appeared 
hatless, barefooted and very much out of breath. 

“There’s somebody coming here. He looks 
like a real gentleman. He— here he comes!” 

In a moment great confusion and excitement 
reigned about the coal-camps, while the occu- 
pants swiftly disappeared from the scene with 
the exception of Rob, Larry and Joe Willet, 
though half a dozen heads soon appeared at 
the low doorways. 

Rob’s misapprehension quickly disappeared 
as he caught sight of the approaching person. 

‘ ‘ Why, it ’s Dr. Menter, ’ ’ he said in a low tone, 
while in a louder voice he addressed the new- 
comer : 

“Good morning, sir. I hope you are well. 


156 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


and that it is not any bad news that you fetch 
to Break o’ Day.” 

‘‘In the name of goodness, are you living 
here?” demanded the physician, allowing his 
usual polite speech to be overcome by his sur- 
prise. 

“Yes, sir.” 

“I supposed you were stopping in the red 
house. The deacon owns that.” 

“It wasn’t convenient, sir, at the time.” 

“But these sod camps are not fit for a pig 
to live in, let alone human beings.” 

“We hope to get into better houses some- 
time, sir.” 

Dr. Menter had discovered the notice posted 
by the selectmen, and when he had hastily run 
it over he exclaimed: 

“Have they gone as far as that? When was 
that put up?” 

“Yesterday afternoon, sir.” 

“Well, well, that beats me. ’Squire Hardy 
is behind it. For some reason he does not like 
you, and I had rather have half of the town 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


157 


against me than the ’squire. What do you pro- 
pose to do about it?” 

‘‘We haven’t decided yet, sir.” 

“Let me see! ha, that’s it! I tell you what I 
would do inside of an hour. Move up into the 
old red house. That happens to stand over the 
line in another town, and I do not believe you 
will be troubled there. At any rate the author- 
ities of Basinburg cannot disturb you as long 
as you do no harm inside its boundaries.” 

Rob was quick to catch upon this information, 
and it gave him a ray of hope immediately. 

“You are very kind, sir, and we shall do as 
you say. But I do not know how we can get the 
sick ones up there. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Got sick ones, have you ? Let me see them. 
As I didn’t come up here professionally, there 
will be no charge.” 

Dr. Menter here left his carriage, and while 
Chick stood by his horse he followed Rob into 
the camp where Mr. Little was suffering on his 
primitive couch. Upon entering the low, damp 
place the good physician could not refrain from 
uttering sundry ejaculations and comments 
on the dreary situation. 


158 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


‘‘A well man could not live here without 
being sick. I should judge, my dear man, that 
you had been living in some place just like this 
before. Yours is a bad case of low circulation, 
with rheumatism and its kindred complaints 
hanging over you. What you need more than 
medicine is fresh air and sunlight and cold 
water. Why, man, if you will take a cold-water 
bath, with a good smart rubbing with a coarse 
towel, every morning, get all the sun yoii can, 
and just drink in the rarefied air of Break o’ 
Day for six months. I’ll warrant you will be 
at work in the cabbage-patch with the boys.” 

^ ^ God knows I wish I could, doctor. ’ ’ 

^^God is willing you should if you will take 
his medicine. His medicine is cheaper than any 
other doctor’s, too.” 

Though the doctor spoke less enthusiastically 
of Mrs. Willet’s condition, he spoke hopefully, 
and on the whole his visit was like a ray of sun- 
shine in itself, and from that hour Dr. Menter 
was fairly worshipped by the older members 
of Ragged Rob’s Young Republic. 

The suggestion of a move to the old house 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


159 


had found a ready response among the party, 
so Rob was beginning to carry out the idea. 
But what puzzled him most was how to move 
Mr. Little and Mrs. Willet, until Dr. Menter of- 
fered to take them there in his carriage. This 
was not a very difficult undertaking, and inside 
of an hour the removal was made complete. 

‘Mt is a sorry tenement to move into,’^ de- 
clared the doctor, ‘‘but it is a palace compared 
to those coal-camps, and you can soon make it 
quite comfortable. There is plenty of room for 
all of you at present. I see you are pretty short 
of provisions, which brings me to my real er- 
rand in coming up here. 

“Mrs. Cornhill needs help about her work, 
now that the deacon is down with the fever, and 
if one of the girls will go and work for her a few 
weeks she will be well paid. Help is needed, 
too, on the farm, so there is a chance for one 
of the hoys. The deacon is in a hard corner fi- 
nancially, hut he pays his help. As he is too 
ill to look after such matters, I will advance you 
enough to set up housekeeping,^’ 


CHAPTER XVIIL 

THE KEBELLION AT BEEAK o' DAY. 

Dr. Menter^s kind words brought the tears 
to more eyes than one among these waifs of 
humanity forming Ragged Rob’s Young Re- 
public, but they were tears of joy surging up 
from emotions too deep for utterance. 

^‘May God bless you,” said Mrs. Bayne, fer- 
vently, a prayer echoed by the others. ‘‘You 
are very kind. Dr. Menter, and I hope that you 
will get your pay for it.” 

“I should be less than human, my dear 
woman, did I not do this much, when I cannot 
forget that my two dear children at home owe 
their lives to Rob. He risked his life nobly to 
save them, and I will do all I can for him and 
his friends.” 


160 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


161 


‘‘You said Mrs. Cornhill wanted to get a girl 
to help her,’’ said Joe at this moment. “I will 
go, and the money I earn shall go toward help- 
ing make better the house here.” 

“You are needed at home, Joe,” spoke up 
Mary Little. “Let me go. You know I am 
stronger than you.” 

A short discussion followed, when it was de- 
cided that Mary should go, and she declared 
that she was ready to go at once. 

“You can ride down with me,” said the doc- 
tor. “You will need different clothes, but I 
think Mrs. Cornhill will fit you out in fine shape. 
So jump in, and we will drive down there im- 
mediately. I will send you up a load of goods 
this forenoon, Rob.” 

The little band of colonists could not refrain 
from watching the kind-hearted doctor until 
his carriage had disappeared behind a row of 
bushes growing by the roadside, when they 
turned to their task of putting their new home 
into better shape with a hearty good will. 

Water was brought from a neighboring 
spring, and cleaning was begun, while Rob and 


162 


BEEAKO^ DAY BOYS. 


Tom and Jerry began to make such repairs in 
the way of fixing up doors and windows as 
they could. As little as they had to do with, be- 
fore noon the old house presented a far more 
inviting appearance. But all this was new to 
the boys, and they soon tired of the work. 
Larry, though older and larger than even Rob, 
was the first to murmur. 

didn’t suppose we’d come out here to 
break our backs lifting and working,” he said. 

don’t know how the rest of ye feel, but I’d 
ruther be back in Smoky Alley.” 

^‘Oh, you’ll soon get used to it,” replied Joe. 
think it is just delightful. I never felt so 
well in my life. Come, Larry, be somebody. 
See how Rob has worked, and he—” 

^‘Of course you’d stand up fer Rob. Nothing 
he does is bad, but as fer me—” 

‘‘Hold your tongue, Larry! We don’t want 
any grumbler in Break o’ Day.” 

As the old red house was amply large for so 
many it was decided to divide into three fam- 
ilies, though much of the work would have to 
be done together, particularly the cooking. 




BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


163 


Mrs. Bayne and Rob, with the boys Chick, 
Rnddy and Tony, were to form one family; 
Mrs. Willet and Joe another; while the Lit- 
tles, Annt Vinnie and her ^‘boys,’’ Tom and 
Jerry, made np the third. 

As the noon hour drew near, Aunt Vinnie, 
who was inclined to look on the dark side, be- 
gan to bewail their .condition if Dr . Menter 
should fail to send the supplies as he had prom- 
ised. But this was useless talk, as grumbling 
generally proves to be, for at last the team came 
fairly loaded. How the boys shouted, while the 
older members felt quite as jubilant! There 
were edibles, such as potatoes, flour, apples, 
etc., with a table, chairs, two beds, and cooking 
utensils of various kinds, and a second-hand 
stove. Besides these articles, every one of 
which seemed so valuable to the destitute ones, 
were some boards with which to make repairs, a 
saw, plane, hammer, and some nails. 

The man who brought this load said but lit- 
tle, though he eyed the colonists with a curious 
gaze. 

‘^The doctor told me to say that the feller who 


164 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


is to help the deacon will be expected tomorrow 
morning. Work is awfully behind at the dea- 
con’s. But there, I don’t s’pose it matters 
much with him, as they say the doctor has 
given ’t up hope of him getting up ag’in.” 

Rob heard this bit of news with a sorrowful 
heart, and promised he would be promptly on 
hand the next day. 

As he would be away after that day, and not 
be able to attend to the work on the land, Rob 
felt anxious to make a beginning that after- 
noon, so he asked Larry to take hold with him. 
This the latter did reluctantly, while Tom and 
Jerry positively refused to work. Already 
Rob was beginning to feel that right at home 
he was likely to have serious trouble. Still he 
did not feel that the time had come for him to 
express himself as he would liked to have done. 

Larry took his shovel and began work by the 
side of Rob, though he moved slowly and did 
his work so poorly that little Hickory said noth- 
ing when finally he threw down the tool, saying : 

‘H’m too tired to work today.” 

Rob kept steadily at his task until nearly sun- 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


165 


set, and having the satisfaction of knowing he 
had quite a patch spaded up, he was about to 
start toward the house, when he saw a horse and 
wagoa, appro aching. 

The occupants of the wagon were the two se- 
lectmen, who had posted up the notice for them 
to leave Basinburg that day. 

‘‘What are you doing hereT^ demanded the 
spokesman, as he stopped his horse that began 
to nibble at the grass as soon as its head was 
free. 

‘ ‘ At work, sir, getting ready to do a little 
planting as—’’ 

“Weren’t you ordered to move out these re- 
gions, young man!” 

“We have moved, sir,” replied Rob, calmly. 

The chairman of the board of selectmen was 
about to reply, when his companion touched him 
on his arm, and a hurried consultation took 
place between them. Just what they said Rob 
was unable to tell, but he knew well enough that 
it had reference to their present situation, for 
at its conclusion the twain drove away without 
speaking to him again. 


166 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


^‘P’raps you’ve learned where you are,” said 
Rob to himself, as he went to the house, where 
he found the best supper awaiting him that he 
had ever eaten in his life, his recent work hav- 
ing given him an appetite he had never felt 
before. 

It was a happy company of friends that rested 
under the old red house roof that night, even if 
the majority of them slept on pallets of straw. 

The following morning Rob was astir early, 
feeling pretty sore after his work of yesterday, 
hut the sun was not very high when he reached 
the home of Deacon Cornhill to begin his first 
day’s real work. 

He learned that the deacon was very ill. He 
did not see Mary, hut was told that she was get- 
ting along very well with her work. 

It would be tedious, perhaps, to describe the 
events of the following week. But it showed 
considerable advance in certain lines with the 
colonists of the young republic. Rob worked 
every day at Deacon Cornhill ’s, going home to 
Break o’ Day every night and returning in 
the morning. This made it harder for him, but 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


167 


he felt that he was needed to look after matters 
at home. 

This was made doubly important from the 
fact that Larry, Tom and Jerry, with the 
smaller boys showed no disposition to begin 
work. Joe had bravely undertaken to spade up 
the ground to be planted, until Rob had request- 
ed her to stop. On Saturday, a day that will 
never be forgotten by the members of the young 
republic, Rob stayed at home to begin the gar- 
den, which needed attention. 

‘‘Come, boys,’’ he said, cheerily, “lend a 
hand. The garden must be made ready to 
plant.” 

The others made no reply, Larry taking the 
shovel and following reluctantly. 

“I’ve found a place easier to dig up,” he said 
finally, as Rob approached the place where he 
had begun digging. 

Tom and Jerry were sulking in the back- 
ground. 

“I think this is the best place,” replied Rob to 
Larry, who had already started to a sand-bank 
a few rods away. Upon reaching this place 


168 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Larry began work, his shovel sinking its length 
into the light earth. 

‘‘Let’s see who can shovel the most,” said he. 

“It will do no good to work there,” replied 
Rob, who conld see that a crisis was at hand. 

“I, ain’t going to dig in that hard, rocky 
ground when there is sich easy stuff as this. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ But nothing ’ll grow there, ’ ’ said Rob. ‘ ‘ Dr. 
Menter said so.” 

“I don’t keer what you nor Dr. Menter says, 
I reckon I’ll dig where I’m a mind to. Ye 
needn’t think, Rob Bayne, thet ye are going to 
boss me, fer ye ain’t and the sooner ye know it 
the better. ’ ’ 

“I shall be sorry to have any trouble with you, 
Larry, and I’ve no wish to boss you, but I say 
ag’in it is no use to dig in that sand.” 

“I dig here or nowhere,” gritted Larry, 
glowering upon his companion fiercely. “I 
6 ’pose ye think ye are guv’ner here, and not one 
0 ’ us ‘dare to yip. But I want ye to onderstand 
that I’m older and bigger ’n ye, and that I hev 
got more backers ’n ye hev. Come, Tom, Jerry, 
Chick, Ruddy and Tony, and help me show Rob 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


169 


Bayne he ain’t guv’ner here if he does feel so 
big. W e ’ll lick him or hn ’st the guv ’ment ! ’ ’ 

Larry threw aside his shovel, and as the other 
boys stepped quickly forward, he advanced 
swiftly toward Little Hickory with both fists 
doubled up and a dark, malignant scowl on his 
features. 

He showed in every look and action that he 
meant a bitter fight, which Ragged Rob had 
neither the inclination or the opportunity to 
escape, however hazardous it might prove to 
him. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


A FIGHT TO A FINISH. 

The three smaller boys, Chick, Ruddy and 
Tony, who had hastened to the side of Larry at 
his call, now that they really understood the sit- 
uation, quickly stepped away as Larry advanced 
toward Rob. 

‘‘Golly exclaimed the irrepressible Chick, 
“there’s going to be some fun. I’ll put my 
money on Little Hickory.” 

“He ain’t so big as Larry,” replied Ruddy, 
doubtfully. 

“This ain’t no quarrel of mine, Larry,” said 
Rob, “and if you get the worst of it you mustn’t 
blame me. ’ ’ 

“Who’s a blaming ye, Rob Bayne, and who’s 
getting the wust of it?” retorted the other. “It’s 
high time we knowed who ’s boss here. ’ ’ 

170 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


171 


‘‘If we settle it in this way, Larry, will you 
agree to stand by the consequences!’^ 

“You bet I am. I reckon I’m taller and big- 
ger and stouter, and jess as spry. Oh, I’m itch- 
ing all over to get at ye. Ye show ye are ’fraid 
of me ! I reckon there ain’t no cops round here 
to meddle, and I’ll hev the fun of my life with 
ye. But if I whup ye I’m to be guv’ner. Is 
thet yer say. Little Hickory!” 

“Yes, Larry, but if ye get — ” 

The other did not wait for him to finish, but 
sprang forward with the evident intention of 
overpowering Rob before he could defend him- 
self. But Rob was not to be caught off his 
guard so easily. Warding off the blow aimed 
at his body, Little Hickory fairly lifted his ad- 
versary from his feet by a dexterous movement 
under the other’s guard, to send him flat upon 
the ground. 

Chick cheered, but the rest looked on as if 
spellbound. 

Larry was soon on his feet again, to find Rob 
calmly confronting him, with his arms folded 


172 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


low down upon his body in the favorite position 
of the professional pngilist. 

‘‘Ye took me unawares!’’ cried Larry. “I’ll 
down ye to pay for thet, and once I get my knee* 
on ye I’ll choke the blood out’n ye !” 

It would have been better for Larry to have 
said less, and tried more to curb his anger. But 
he advanced more warily this time, making sev- 
eral feints to the right and left, when thinking 
he saw Little Hickory’s front exposed he con- 
centrated all his strength to deal him a blow 
that should send him upon his back. 

No doubt he would have done it had he hit 
Rob. But he had mistaken the maneuvers of 
Little Hickory. The latter had purposely offered 
this apparent opportunity, and then as Larry 
threw himself into the attack he sent his arm 
upward, and planted his own fist under the 
other’s chin with a force that made his teeth 
chatter and sent him reeling backward. 

Larry managed to save himself, and then he 
called for assistance by crying to his compan- 
ions: 

“Come on, Tom and Jerry! gi’n him fits.*’ 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


173 


These boys evidently felt it their duty to help 
defend their companion, for they rushed to his 
assistance, both of them seizing upon Rob from 
the rear. 

Assailed on every hand it began to look as 
though Little Hickory would have more than he 
could attend to. But he was not one to give uii. 
Giving the twain behind a tremendous kick, 
which sent Jerry flying heels over head into the 
dirt, he closed in with Larry. 

By that time the outcries had reached those at 
the house, and Joe, Mrs. Bayne and Aunt Vinnie 
all came running to the scene, excited over the 
rather startling situation. 

Unheeding them or their cries Little Hickor^^ 
continued to struggle with Larry, while the 
other two boys, Jerry having recovered himself, 
lent their assistance as best they could. 

Aunt Vinnie called for her boys to come away, 
and Rob’s mother appealed to him to desist. 
Joe Willet was alone silent. She had seen that 
Larry was discontented and jealous of Rob’s 
influence, and better than the others knew that 
it would not be overcome in any other way than 


174 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


to show him he was not master by brute 
strength. She would fain have assisted Rob, 
but saw no way of doing it. It would be better, 
too, for Rob to win his victory alone, if he could 
win it at all. 

So the four boys— three against one— strug- 
gled to and fro, back and forth. Larry had 
seized on Rob’s collar with a grip he could not 
break, while Tom and Jerry were pulling at his 
legs, and trying by all means in their power to 
trip him. 

Finally Little Hickory managed to get his 
hand on the collar of Tom, when the latter sud- 
denly found himself lifted up and ranged by the 
side of Larry. Then, with his right hand on 
the shoulder of Larry, he suddenly brought the 
heads of the two boys together with a force 
which filled the air about them with stars, and 
caused them to utter involuntary cries of pain. 

At that moment Jerry succeeded in pulling 
one foot from under Rob, and the latter was 
forced down upon one knee, when it seemed as 
if Larry and Tom, who had rallied, would crush 
him to the ground. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


175 


a shame!’’ cried Joe, running forward 
to lend her assistance to Little Hickory. ‘‘Three 
to one — ” 

By this time the blood of Little Hickory was 
up, as the expression goes, and half a dozen boys 
like Tom and Jerry could have availed naught 
against him. A smart kick sent Jerry flying a 
rod away, where he lay cramped with pain, and 
uttering piteous cries, as Rob bore both Tom 
and Larry backward to the earth, a hand about 
the throat of either. 

“Oh— oh— oh!” groaned the pair in unison. 
“You’re— choking me!” 

Now that he had obtained an advantage Little 
Hickory resolved not to let either up until he 
had obtained an acknowledgement of submission 
from both. 

Thus he pressed still harder upon them, as 
he said in his low, determined tone : 

“Ye have lost, Larry! I’m too much for all 
of ye. What are ye going to do about it?” 

But Larry remained silent, his stubborn na- 
ture not allowing him to yield at once. Again 
Rob made his demand, in his suppressed excite- 


176 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


ment falling into the slang of the streets which 
he had dropped to a considerable extent since 
coming to Break o’ Day. His fingers closed 
harder upon the other ’s throat. 

Larry made a painful cry, and made a move 
as if he would rise. 

‘‘Do ye cave to me, Larry! Nod yer head if 
ye mean it. ’ ’ 

The eyes fiashed, but his head did not move. 

“Ye are true grit, Larry, but ye shall never 
get onto yer feet till ye hev promised to do as I 
want ye to after this, or else go away from 
Break o’ Day. Are ye ready to answer!” 

Another spueeze, and the head of Larry 
nodded slightly. 

‘ ‘ Hev ye got yer answer ready, Tom ! ’ ’ 

The latter nodded quickly. 

Then, as Little Hickory loosened simultan- 
eously his hold on the throats of his assailants, 
he said : 

“Mind ye, hoys, no treachery. I hev asked 
ye a square question. Are ye going away from 
Break o ’ Day or stay ! ’ ’ 

“I’m going to stay,” muttered Larry. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


177 


^‘And do as I sayT’ 

‘ ‘ I knuckle, Little Hickory. I thought I could 
whup ye, but ye are too menny fer us all.” 

‘‘And ye, Tom and Jerry?” 

“I’m with ye, Rob,” replied both. 

“Good,” said Little Hickory, though there 
was no sign of triumph in his manner as he 
stepped back. “I’m glad you are going to stay.” 

“So am I,” said Joe, taking Larry’s hand. 
“You made a good fight, Larry, and I like you 
better for it, now that you are all right. It is 
only right Little Hickory should be at our head. 
We’ll agree to mind him in all he says.” 

Larry made no reply, though the others knew 
well enough the victory had been fully won by 
Little Hickory. Chick would have given three 
cheers and a tiger or two, but the conqueror 
stopped him. 


CHAPTER XX. 

WAYLAID. 

Little Hickory had no further trouble among 
his companions at Break o’ Hay. If reluctant 
at first, Larry went to work beside him in 
spading up the ground, and that very afternoon 
they planted their first seed. To these found- 
lings of the great city this was an event little 
to be appreciated by those brought up in the 
country. All but Mrs. Willet and Mr. Little 
joined the planters, Joe having the honor of 
dropping the seed into the ‘‘hills.” 

That evening Dr. Menter paid them a short 
visit, and when he found how the garden had 
been begun, he promised to arrange so that a 
man with a pair of horses and a plow should 
come up the first of the following week to help 
out the boys in their spading. He had also 

178 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


179 


found a situation for Larrj^ which the latter 
accepted after a little hesitation. 

The visit of the genial doctor lent additional 
inspiration to the hearts of the members of the 
young republic, and when he had gone, the three 
families met together, at Larry’s suggestion, 
and there in the presence of them all he took 
the hand of Rob, saying : 

Little Hicktory, you deserve your name, and 
I was a fool for trying to lick you. Now if ye’ll 
let thet be forgot I’ll stand by ye after this.” 

do,” replied Rob, fervently. ^‘You have 
got the right stutf in you, Larry, and I know we 
shall get along first rate.” 

^^I’ll do my part. Little Hickory, and you 
know I never fergit.” 

Larry was noted among his friends for his 
wonderful memory, and though he did not real- 
ize it then, it was a gift that was going to help 
him in times to come. 

Jos took his hand cordially, and thanked him 
for his generosity. And Joe’s thanks were 
worth all of the others to him. 

So the little band forgot their enmities and 


180 


BREAK O’ DAY BOY8* 


that evening at least were happy. Already both 
the invalids declared that they were feeling bet- 
ter, and they looked forward to the time when 
they should be fully recovered. 

The four weeks that followed were unevent- 
ful. ’Squire Hardy seemed to have forgotten 
his enmity, though if Rob ever met him he 
scowled darkly upon him, and turned away. The 
authorities of the town in which the old red 
house stood ignored entirely the new inhabitants 
within their jurisdiction. 

Thus the close of this month of peace to the 
young republic found Rob still working for Dea- 
con Cornhill, who was lingering with a slow 
fever from which it would take him many weeks 
more before he could fully recover. Little 
Hickory continued to go home every night, and 
during the odd moments that he could get he 
assisted the small boys in the task of caring for 
the growing crops. 

Jos was really the master spirit at home now, 
and the stranger must have been struck by the 
new phase of life taken on at Break o ’ Day. The 
old house had been repaired, cleaned and so 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


181 


altered in appearance that it presented a look of 
comfort if not of comeliness. Just below the 
smooth green yard, the scene of the settlement 
of the mastery between Little Hickory and 
Larry Little, was a garden of fresh-growing 
plants which was a source of unlimited pride 
and pleasure to the dwellers in the old house. 

Dr. Menter had proved a true prophet in the 
case of Mr. Little and Mrs. Willet. The former 
was already able to sit in the doorway on warm, 
pleasant days, enjoying both the sunshine and 
the country air. Mrs. Willet, very much to 
Joe’s joy, was in the habit of sitting by one of 
the windows, the color coming hack to her coun- 
tenance and the strength to her tired body, due 
largely to the pure air and the sunshine. 

One cloud now rested on their everyday lives. 
Dr. Menter had bade them good-bye for several 
months, while he took a much needed vacation 
in Europe. 

‘‘This seems too good to last,” declared Aunt 
Vinnie, who seemed always looking for the 
clouds. 

“Let us enjoy the sun while we may, auntie,” 


182 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


said Joe in her buoyant way. ‘‘See how bean- 
tif Tilly it is setting behind yonder rim of moun- 
tains. It makes me in love with the country, 
and I never want to see the hot, dusty city again. 
I don’t see what makes Rob so late to-night. He 
thought he would get home early. ’ ’ 

Perhaps it is well we cannot know what is 
taking place beyond our sight, or light-hearted 
Joe would have shuddered at that moment over 
the fortunes of her youthful lover. 

Let us see what Rob is doing at this moment. 
In going back and forth betwen Break o ’ Day 
and the home of Deacon Cornhill he had found 
the west route by way of the “Flying Jump” 
his best course, it being nearly a mile shorter 
.though more broken at places. 

Rob had not been at work many days for 
Deacon Cornhill before he found there was a 
second-hand bicycle left by a nephew, and which 
Mrs. Cornhill, who was overcoming her preju- 
dice for him, kindly loaned to Little Hickory. 
In the morning he found his wheel of considera- 
ble help to him, though in returning to his home 
he had to walk more than half the way. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


183 


On this particular evening when Joe was so 
light-hearted and not a cloud had been discov- 
ered on the horizon of the young republic, Rob 
was climbing one of the long ascents leading to 
Break o’ Day wheeling his bicycle along beside 
him as he slowly advanced. 

About midway in the ascent was that wild 
section of the route called ^^The Flying Jump,” 
where the mountain road after hanging for sev- 
eral rods on the very brink of a high precipice 
took a sudden turn and descended with dizzy 
abruptness into a narrow dark ravine, to rise on 
the other side with equal steepness. 

A noisy stream wound through the lonely val- 
ley at places finding a difficult passage, so at 
high water it would overflow the gorge to a con- 
siderable depth. 

Little Hickory always walked this portion of 
his route, and at this time he had barely reached 
the western summit, and was casting swift 
glances over his wild surroundings, when he was 
suddenly confronted by two men, who had 
stepped silently from the thicket overhanging 
the road. 


184 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


It was evident that they had both been lying 
in wait for him, for simultaneously with their 
appearance both drew revolvers, and pointing 
the deadly weapons at Bob’s head, one of them 
cried out in a sharp tone : 

Throw up yer hands, youngster, or yer life 
ain’t worth a dead rabbit’s hide!” 

Though taken completely by surprise. Little 
Hickory realized that he was at the mercy of 
these bold villains, and accordingly he did as he 
was bid, at the same time allowing his bicycle 
to rest against his body. 

^‘Good!” exclaimed the spokesman of the 
twain, ‘‘ye act like a sensible chap. It pays to 
know when ye are knocked under. See what he 
carries in his pocket, Jed.” 

The waylayer addressed lowered his weapon 
and stepped forward to* carry out the order of 
his companion, as he did so for a moment com- 
ing betwen his accomplice and their victim. 

It was Little Hickory’s golden opportunity. 

Quick as a flash he dealt the ruffians each a 
tremendous blow with his fists, sending them 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


185 


staggering back into the bushes, with exclama- 
tions of terror. 

He had barely accomplished this feat and was 
about to follow up his advantage by seizing 
their weapons and thus turning the tables upon 
them by using these revolvers against his ene- 
mies, when a pistol shot came from the growth, 
and a bullet whistled so close to his head that it 
cut away a lock of hair. 

An oath followed the report of the weapon, 
when a hoarse voice cried out : 

‘‘Quick, lads! nab the fool chap afore he gets 
away ! ’ ’ 

A crash in the bushes succeeded another shot, 
and Little Hickory knew he was in the midst of 
enemies thirsting for his blood. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


A STAKTLING PKEDICAMENT. 

As this was an eventful evening in the for- 
tunes of the colonists of Break o’ Day, and it is 
best to keep as square a front as is possible with 
the date, it seems necessary to record at this 
time a peculiar incident which befell another 
member of the party. If not as serious a situa- 
tion as that of Little Hickory’s, it held enough 
of horror and terror to satisfy at least the par- 
ticipant. 

Larry Little upon finding that Rob was his 
master in the athletic trial, like a sensible boy 
that he was, quietly accepted the situation and 
became a loyal follower of him whom he could 
not lead. Some are born to be rulers, it would 
seem, while others must content to be followers. 
It is needless to say that the latter class is quite 
as essential and fully as creditable as the first. 


186 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


187 


Larry had gone to work for a Mr. Howlitt on 
a farm just out of the village, and did not return 
to his home at night, as Rod did. If he found 
farm work pretty hard at first, and he blistered 
his hands, went to bed at night with an aching 
back, felt tired and sleepy in the morning, 
he did not murmur very loud. He had taken 
hold in earnest, resolved to make the most of it. 

Mr. Howlitt was a well-to-do farmer, having 
one other hand to help him besides Larry. He 
had no boys of his own, but this deficiency was 
more th^n made up, as Larry soon came to 
think, by having a most charming daughter. 

Lucy Howlitt was an excedingly pretty girl 
in her seventeenth year, and what was better a 
very sensible one. If Larry had felt a deep 
yearning for Joe Willet longer than he could 
remember, this affection was transferred inside 
of two weeks to Lucy Howlitt, and he was 
happy. That is, Larry would have been happy 
if he had been sure that he was the one favored 
by her. 

Unfortunately for his peace of mind, he had a 
rival. What seemed to be worse for him, this 


188 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


aspirant for the very smiles and friendship that 
he coveted was an audacious, educated, quick- 
witted, well-dressed youth, who was the son of a 
rich man and who was at that time studying law 
with the purpose of practicing that profession. 
But with all this in his favor he was an arrant 
coxcomb, and favorite with only a small circle 
of acquaintances. 

His name was Pluto Alexander Snyder, as he 
invariably signed it, giving a sort of double 
twist to the S and an unmeaning curl under- 
neath the whole signature. 

Larry sized him up as a snob, but trembled 
in the fear that he was likely to lose in the race 
against such a competitor. To add to his dis- 
comfiture Pluto Snyder, who was at least three 
years older than Larry, was raising a mustache, 
though he had not yet succeeded in coaxing a 
growth of over half a dozen hairs under each 
nostril. As these were of a very light color they 
did not make a very strong impression. 

As for the young law-student it should be said 
Larry’s presence did not for a moment disturb 
his peace of mind. In fact, he did not consider 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


189 


the ^‘ragged boor^^ worth the dignity of being 
considered a rival for the hand of the sweet 
Lucy Howlitt, forsooth! 

Larry had at least one opportunity to display 
his superiority over his supercilious rival, even 
if it was in an humble manner. 

Pluto Snyder lived in an adjoining town, 
though less than a mile and a half away, and it 
was his delight to take Lucy out to ride on 
pleasant afternoons whenever she would go, 
which was unnecessarily often to the watchful 
Larry. But if priding himself upon being able 
to drive a horse upon the road, Pluto had never 
mastered the intricacies of that common wear- 
ing apparel of the animal known as the harness. 
The terms of hames, saddle, girth, bits, etc., 
were less understood by him than the expres- 
sions of Blackstone were to the poor boy dig- 
ging in the field by the roadside with a load on 
his heart which troubled him more than his hard 
work. 

Thus one day, as he was returning from one 
of those pleasure trips accompanied by Miss 
Howlitt, by some means the girth became un- 


190 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


buckled, and descending a hill at that time the 
thills of the wagon were thrown up so that the 
horse was frightened, and threatened to run. 
Pluto, more alarmed than the animal, shouted 
for it to stop and pulling on one rein steered 
the horse into the ditch. 

The horse grew more unmanageable, and the 
driver leaped to the ground forgetful of his 
companion, while he continued to make his 
frantic cries. 

By this time Lucy was frightened, and her 
cries were added to those of her companion, 
though she did not jump from the wagon. 

Fortunately Larry was working in the ad- 
joining field in company with Job Wescott, the 
hired man, and he ran to the assistance of the 
couple, followed by Job. 

Though himself a novice in the matter of har- 
nesses, Larry called out for young Snyder to 
stop pulling on the reins. He then ran to the 
horse ’s head, and led it back to the road. 

Job then reached the spot, and seeing the 
girth dangling in the air, buckled it, and looked 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


191 


the harness over without discovering any other 
difficulty. 

‘‘Blamed ijitP’ he said, “if you had as much 
sense as the hoss and let him take his own way 
you’d come out better.” 

This nettled Pluto, who exclaimed loudly: 

“ If I don ’t know as much as such a clodhop- 
per as you are I ’ll hoe weeds all day the Fourth, 
and you may go in my place to make the oration 
at Gainsboro.” 

“Drat my pictur’ if I couldn’t shout to more 
purpose ’n you can I’d send a calf in my place,” 
muttered Job, starting back into the field in a 
high dudgeon. 

Pluto Snyder was climbing back into the 
wagon, and he had no sooner gained his seat 
than he called out in his loud voice for Larry to 
let go of the horse’s bridle. 

“Don’t let go,” plead Lucy, “please lead him 
to the foot of the hill.” 

The animal was still restive, and even Pluto 
did not offer further objection to Larry’s as- 
sistance, now that he had some one else to share 
the responsibility with him. 


192 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


When the foot of the descent had been reached 
and the horse, under ordinary conditions a very 
quiet creature, seemed to have got over its 
fright, Larry released his hold and stepped 
aside to let the wagon pass. 

‘ ‘ Please accept my thanks for your help, Law- 
rence,’’ said Lucy, with a smile. She always 
called him by his full name. “I do not know 
what we should have done if it had not been for 
you. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Don ’t give the lunkhead more credit than he 
deserves,” said Pluto Alexander. Then, seem- 
ing to feel that he ought to make some acknowl- 
edgment to his rescuer, he turned back to say : 

‘‘Quite clever in you, young fellow. You can 
come over to Gainsboro and hear my oration on 
the Fourth.” 

Larry made no reply, though he did not re- 
turn to the field until the wagon and its occu- 
pants had disappeared around a bend in the 
road. 

“It don’t take much of a block to make a 
fool, ’ ’ said J ob, as Larry rejoined him. ‘ ‘ Quite 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


193 


clever in him to allow yon tli’ privilege of goin’ 
to hear him orate. 

‘ ‘ What does he mean f ’ asked Larry. 

‘^Oh, jess that he’s going to stnmp th’ crowd 
at the Fourth celebration at Gainshoro. I 
sh’u’d like to know what fool got him to ‘orate,’ 
but I s’pose his dad got him the chance, which 
it were easy to do with his money. ’ ’ 

“D’ you s’pose Lucy will ever marry him?” 
Larry asked before he could realize what he was 
saying. 

“I dare say; money cuts a mighty big figger 
with some. ’ ’ 

Larry dropped the conversation there, but the 
thought of the coming Fourth of July celebra- 
tion remained with him all the afternoon. 

“I s’pose he will take Lucy there,” he mused, 
“and he will cut a big swell. I wish I could 
take her with me,” and then frightened by the 
mere thought he hoed away at the grass and 
weeds with such force that Job called out to 
him to “go easy afore ye get tuckered.” 

A few days later Larry fairly frightened him- 
self by saying to Lucy that he wished he could 


194 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


go to Gainsboro the Fourth. She seemed almost 
as surprised as himself, saying ; 

‘‘It would be nice, Lawrence, but have you 
any clothes to WearT’ 

Seeing his confusion she bit her lip for say- 
ing as much, and ran away to be by herself. He 
sought the companionship of Job, feeling very 
crestfallen. Still it would look as if good was 
to come of this little incident, for within a week 
Mr. Howlitt said to Larry : 

“How would you like a day off, eh, Larry? 
You have been a faithful boy, and to-morrow I 
am going to Middletown to look over the market, 
so that you may go too by driving Old Jerry 
over with a load of truck. I am owing you a 
little money, and if you want to it will be a good 
time for you to get a suit of clothes. I do not 
know -how the minx knows it, but Lucy thinks 
you would like to go to Gainsboro on the 
Fourth.’’ 

Larry wondered if his blushes showed through 
his coat of tan, as he stammered his reply. 

Larry’s enjoyment of that trip to Middletown 
was doubled when he found that Lucy was to 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


195 


accompany her father. He received another 
pleasant surprise when Mr. Howlitt placed ten 
dollars in two new crisp bills in his hands as 
soon as the load of farm products had been sold. 

‘‘Do with it as you wish, lad,’’ he said, and 
Larry lost no time in hastening to a ready-made 
clothing store where he bought him a new suit 
of clothes, even to shoes and underwear. It 
took all of his money, and the outfit was a plain 
one, but serviceable, and it is safe to. say that 
Larry will never buy another which will give 
him half the pleasure of that one. 

On his way home, and he started some time 
ahead of Mr. Howlitt and Lucy, as “Old Jerry” 
was a slow horse under ordinary circumstances, 
he could think of nothing else. Time and again 
he took up the bundle to examine it from the 
outside, and then toss it back into the bottom 
of the wagon, saying over to himself : 

“It is mine!” 

Finally the idea entered his busy brain that 
it would be a fine thing to appear at home in his 
new suit. Why not put it on now? He was 
riding along a road where there was no house 


196 


fiREAKO’ DAY BOYS. 


for a long distance, and he would risk meeting 
a team. Accordingly, almost before he realized 
what he was doing, he had stripped off his old 
coat, and never thinking in his wild exuberance 
of spirit that he might ever need to wear it 
again, flung it down in the rear of the wagon. 

“Lay there, old coat, and may you rest in 
peace!’’ 

Casting hasty glances up and down the road 
to see that no team was in sight, he sent one 
after another his remaining garments besides 
this coat, until he stood in the wagon as un- 
clothed as at the time of his birth ! 

Anxious now to don his new suit he reached 
down in the wagon to take up the bundle, when 
to his horror he could not find it ! 

It had been jostled out of the wagon and was 
gone! 

In the midst of this startling plight the sound 
of carriage wheels behind him caught his atten- 
tion. Glancing wildly backward he found that 
he was being followed by the last persons on 
earth that he would care to meet at that time— 
Pluto Snyder and Lucy Howlitt ! 


CHAPTER XXII. 


A FOUKTH OF JULY ORATION.^' 

It would be impossible to describe the dismay 
of Larry Little as he found that he was followed 
by Pluto Snyder and Lucy Howlitt, who was 
laughing and apparently enjoying herself. 

Fortunately for Larry he had prudently 
ducked himself down behind the wagon seat at 
the same moment he had looked around at the 
sound of the approaching team. 

What could he do in that sorry plight? 

He cried to old Jerry, but he knew the clumsy 
farm-horse would prove no match for the spir- 
ited animal driven by his rival. 

As if to add to his horror the latter was driv- 
ing at a smart gait, and he was rapidly overtak- 
ing him. 

In vain he urged Old Jerry on. 

197 


198 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


He was in for it I 

In his agony he thought of jumping from the 
wagon, let the consequence be what it might. 
But that would only add to the worst side of 
his foolish adventure. There was no escape for 
him! 

In this horrible dilemma, while continuing to- 
urge Old Jerry on, he caught up the oil-cloth 
Mr. Howlitt had thrown over the load of pro- 
duce, and wrapped this hastily about his form. 
Then, speaking coaxingly for Jerry to slacken 
his gait, he kept his arms concealed as much as 
possible, and waited desperately for the others 
to pass. 

Larry’s awful suspense was of short duration, 
for in a minute Pluto and his fair companion 
came dashing alongside. 

‘^Old Jerry seems to be wide-awake,” greeted 
Lucy, who did not seem to realize the real situa- 
tion, ‘ ^ so I thought we should not overtake you. 
I think you must have lost a bundle out of your 
wagon, for I saw this by the wayside, and made 
Mr. Snyder stop and pick it up.” 

With these words she tossed into the market 


BEEAKO^DAY BOYS. 


199 


wagon at Larry’s feet the bundle containing his 
new clothes. 

He dared not stoop to pick it up, and he was 
too confused and bewildered to make the grate- 
ful acknowledgment that he felt in his heart like 
doing. 

‘‘Father will soon be ’long, ’’said Lucy, as she 
and her companion rapidly left poor Larry be- 
hind. “I met Mr. Snyder in Middletown and 
he wanted—” 

The rest was too indistinct for Larry to un- 
derstand, but it did not matter. The fearful 
ordeal was over, his new clothes safe, and he 
felt like shouting in his joy. Now that he had 
come to himself he began to see how foolish he 
had been. 

“I had no business to do it,” he said. 

He then prepared to array himself properly 
before any one else should come along. Pick- 
ing up his discarded garments, he went back 
into the woods where he could put them on with 
less chance of being interrupted. 

Upon reaching Mr. Howlitt’s Larry could not 
help imagining that every one was thinking of 


200 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


his recent escapade, and he went about his work 
in a confused way. Somehow he did not dare 
to show his new clothes, so he carried them to 
his room when no one was looking. But he was 
not to keep his secret long, if it could be called 
a secret, for the next morning he was ques- 
tioned in regard to them. It proved that his 
employer had given him the money in the way 
he had in order to see what he would do with it. 

‘‘I will tell you, papa,” said Lucy, ^^for I 
think Lawrence is too modest to do so. He has 
a new suit of clothes, and I think we ought to 
see how they look on him, don’t you?” 

So Larry was persuaded to try on his new 
suit, and while he felt in a most uncomfortable 
frame of mind, the clothes were declared to be 
a good fit, and well worth the money. 

‘ ‘ I see no reason now why you cannot attend 
the Fourth at Gainsboro,” said Mr. Howlitt, 
with a laugh. 

‘‘I mean to, sir,” replied Larry, though he 
little dreamed under what circumstances. 

A few days later, as he and Job were at work 
in what was called ‘Hhe further field,” on their 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


201 


way home they overheard some one talking in 
a loud tone in an old barn standing some dis- 
tance from the road. 

Drawn thither out of curiosity they looked 
into the building through one of the cracks be- 
tween the boards, to find Pluto Alexander Sny- 
der there reciting a ‘Apiece’’ with all the gusto 
at his command. 

^^By gum!” whispered Job, ‘‘if he ain’t 
oratin’ his Gainsboro stump speech he may 
hitch me up to draw the cultivator ’tween the 
corn rows to-morrer. Ain’t he a squelcher!” 

Unconscious of his intent listeners Pluto, the 
embryo lawyer, continued to practice on his 
“oration,” going entirely through the speech 
twice, and dwelling upon what he considered 
its finest points over and again. 

“If that don’t set out John Howlitt’s eyes, I 
don’t know what will,” he said to himself. 
“When he hears this Fourth of July oration of 
mine he will think I am fit to associate with his 
daughter. As if the Howlitts were anywhere 
near as good as the Snyders ! ’ ’ 

Job had hard work to keep from laughing out- 


202 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


right while he listened, and as soon as they were 
a safe distance from the old barn, he laid down 
on the ground and rolled and roared till he was 
completely ont of breath. 

Did you ever see th’ beat of thet, Larry? 
Say, my boy, if you could orate like that your 
fortun’ would be made, ha-ha-ha!” 

‘‘I believe I can. Job. Now listen.” 

Then to the amazement of his companion 
Larry Little repeated the ‘‘oration” of Pluto 
Snyder’s from beginning to end. He may have 
made some mistakes, but they were of small ac- 
count, and Job listened with open-mouthed as- 
tonishment. 

“By gum !” exclaimed Job after a long pause, 
“how in creation did you do that! Jess as Pluck 
Snyder had it word fer word e’en to the flour- 
ishes. Could yer do thet ag’in!” 

“Of course T could. Job. It was always easy 
for me to remember.” 

“If I had a hang-on to my memory like thet 
I’d make my fortin, see if I wouldn’t.” 

As Larry and Job were working up that way 
the next day they took time to call at the old 
barn, to find Pluto Snyder already there going 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


203 


through his daily rehearsal, listened to by his 
unseen audience with poorly concealed delight. 
Nor was that the last time the amused twain 
sought their post to listen, for they continued 
to do so until they tired of it, and Larry could 
repeat every word and gesture. To prove this 
he went through the entire ‘‘oration” before 
J ob the day preceding the Fourth. 

Though Larry had got his new suit of clothes, 
he knew that Lucy had promised to go to Gains- 
boro with young Snyder so he spared himself 
the humiliation of being refused. 

In his disappointment he donned his best 
clothes, and though Mr. Howlitt had intended 
for him to ride along with the family, he went 
on foot and alone, “the same as the girl who 
went to get married.” 

The day was pleasant and he found a large 
crowd gathered in the grove where merriment 
reigned supreme. A stranger among strangers 
he held aloof from the rest, until he was both 
surprised and pleased to see Rob, Tom and 
Jerry there. ^ 

“Hilloa!” greeted the first, “you didnT say 
you were coming over here.” 


204 


BEEAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


‘‘Neither did you,’’ replied Larry. 

“Say, Eob, don’t Larry look fine in his new 
clothes! Where ’d you get ’em, Larry!” 

“Bought them with money of my own earn- 
ings, ’ ’ retorted Larry, who was not disposed to 
do much talking even with his friends. 

The truth was he had been on the watch for 
Lucy and Pluto Snyder, but they had not ap- 
peared, though it was already past the time set 
for the speaking, anl he knew they were wait- 
ing for the “orator” up at the grand stand. 
Then he saw Mr. Howlitt arrive, and Lucy was 
with him, so that his wonder increased. 

He was about to go and speak to her, when 
Job touched him on the arm, saying in a low 
tone: 

“They want you up to the spouter’s stand.” 

Larry was not more surprised at the words 
than he was to find that Job was present, as he 
had not expected him to come. 

“What do you mean. Job!” 

“Jess what I say, Larry. Pluck Snyder sent 
word by me that he can’t be here to-day, and he 
wants you to orate his speech fer him.” 



What she now saw was a sight calculated to have sent a thrill 
of terror to the heart of a less brave girl. 

(Page 254) 




CHAPTER XXIIL 

^^STOP ! THAT^S MY OKATION/^ 

To explain the appearance of Rob at the 
Fourth of July celebration in Gainsboro we 
shall have to go back to his meeting with the 
masked men on the summit of Flying Jump, 
where we left him just as he had flung aside two 
of his assailants to be fired on by others in con- 
cealment. 

Knowing from the sounds that two or three 
were coming to the assistance of the two men he 
had for the moment baffled in their attack, Lit- 
tle Hickory felt that his only way of escape lay 
in flight. 

Thus he quickly sprang into the saddle of his 
bicycle, and just as the men in front recovered 

205 


206 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


enough to renew their assault and those in the 
bushes burst into sight, he started down the 
steep grade at a tremendous velocity. 

‘‘Hi there! hold up or we will shoot ye!” 
cried the leader of the party. 

But nothing was farther from the purpose of 
Little Hickory, even had it been possible for 
him to check his headlong flight at this juncture 
without deadly peril to himself. 

The road was strewn with loose rocks and rent 
with deep gullies at places, but despite the aw- 
ful peril constantly menacing his progress he 
kept on down Flying Jump at a rate of speed in 
keeping with its name. 

Two of his enemies sent shots after him, but 
they flew over his head harmlessly, and the en- 
tire party stood as if riveted to their tracks 
while they watched the flight of their intended 
victim, expecting every moment to see him flung 
headfirst upon the rocks, where he would be an 
easy prey to them. 

But Little Hickory had too clear a head and 
steady a nerve to fall in any such manner. It 
it true he was not an experienced bicyclist, but 


BEE AK O ^ DAY BOYS. 


207 


what he lacked in experience he more than made 
hp in fearless foresight and swiftness of action. 
Never for an instant ^‘losing his head/’ he 
guided the wheel down the descent, around loose 
stones and boulders, along the very rim of gul- 
lies, down, faster and faster until he fairly flew 
into the valley, and carried on by the fearful 
momentum he had gained sped up the ascent on 
the opposite side. 

By that time the amazed men awakened to tne 
fact that their bird was fast leaving them, and 
with oaths of madness they rushed down the 
hill in pursuit. 

It would be of no avail to fire shots now, as 
Little Hickory was beyond the range of their 
weapons. 

By the time they had gained the foot of Fly- 
ing Jump he was out of sight, having nearly 
gained the summit on the east, carried up half 
the rise on his bicycle, when he sprang lightly 
to the ground and continued his flight on foot. 

‘ ^ Curse him ! ’ ’ cried the leader of the masked 
men, ‘ ‘he ’ll get away from us. He must not. ’ ’ 

“He’s good’s done it, ’cording to my figur- 


208 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


ing,” replied a panting companion. Great 
Scot! how he winged it down the—” 

“Fool ! if yon and Jed hadn’t been sich blund- 
erers he ’d been our game now. ’ ’ 

“Don’t get too sure on thet, old man. He’s 
a whirlwind he is, and no man could a stopped 
him once he gpt started. ’ ’ 

Little Hickory kept on home without seeing 
or hearing anything more of his enemies, and 
what became of them was likely to remain un- 
known. 

He did not think it wise to speak of his ad- 
venture at home, as he knew it would only make 
those at the old house uneasy and afraid to re- 
main there while he and Larry were away. So 
he greeted his mother with his usual light-heart- 
edness, though it was many days before he fully 
recovered from the thrilling experience of coast- 
ing Flying Jump. 

On the morning of the Fourth of July, it be- 
ing a holiday, he resolved to take his first “day 
off” since coming to Break o’ Day, and though 
he had no new suit to wear, as was the case with 
Larry, he brushed his old clothes up, put on a 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


209 


new pair of trousers which he had been obliged 
to buy, and started on foot. 

It had been his wish that Joe should go with 
him, but she declared that she could not think 
of that, as she had positively ‘‘nothing fit to 
wear.” Besides she was needed at home. 

Thus we find Rob at Gainsboro, and no one 
was more surprised than he at the declaration 
of Job Wescott to his friend Larry. 

At this juncture one of the committee came 
hurriedly to the spot, saying: 

“Are you the young man who is to take the 
place of Mr. Snyder, who was to speak here to- 
day! If so, come right along for the people are 
tired of waiting. It^s strange Snyder could not 
have notified us of this arrangement before.” 

Larry was thus placed in a position he could 
not understand, and with the efforts of Job he 
was taken to the speaker’s stand before he had 
fully recovered from his surprise. Then he 
looked around to find himself staring into the 
upturned faces of the crowd of amazed people. 

“Reel it off, Larry, jess as you did to me 
down in the hayfield t’other day and you’ll 


210 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


s prise ’em all— especially Lucy!” whispered 
Job, as he turned to go away. A moment later 
a few heard him say in a low tone to himself : 

‘^If this don’t make me even with Pluck Sny- 
der T’ll try ag’in!” 

The chairman of the occasion by this time had 
arisen, and not knowing personally the ex- 
pected speaker had begun to introduce the 
‘^orator” in glowing terms as ‘‘the gifted son 
of the rich Orestes Snyder, and the talented 
.young law;j^er of the silver tongue destined to 
make his mark in the world,” and much more 
in that line, until he ended and a breathless si- 
lence fell on the scene. 

Was ever one in such a situation as Larry at 
that moment? One of the committee whispered 
for him to rise and begin, while others half- 
lifted him to his feet. 

He did not have either the courage or the 
presence of mind to explain the mistake that 
had been made, even if he really understood 
that one had been made. He simply did what 
seemed the only thing for him to do. He began! 
to repeat his stolen “oration.” 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


211 


Lkrry ’s voice rang out loud and clear, so that 
he caught the attention of his listeners at the 
very outset. Then, all feeling of fear and hes- 
itation leaving him, fairly forgetting himself in 
his efforts, he went on with the patriotic address 
ringing with eloquent expression and flamboy- 
ant descriptions. 

It was evident that the good people of Gains- 
boro were being highly pleased, and Larry Lit- 
tle, the impromptu orator, was soaring high in 
one of Pluto Alexander Snyder’s most labored 
periods, when that person’s voice broke on the 
hushed scene like a note sadly out of tune : 

‘ ‘ Here, you farm lunkhead ! that ’s my oration. 
Stop, I say stop before I have you arrested for 
stealing— ’ ’ 

The rest was lost in the midst of the hubbub 
his words had created, while the irate speaker, 
fairly wild with anger and excitement, con- 
tinued to push the crowd aside, while he rushed 
toward the platform. 

It was a scene which made that Fourth of 
July at Gainsboro memorable. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


“hide me somewhere!’’ 

“I tell you everybody says the old house is 
haunted, and only last night I heard awful cries 
and groans, so I didn’t dare to lay in bed till 
I went to sleep.” 

Chick uttered these words, and his manner 
showed that he believed what he said. Then 
Aunt Vinnie joined in, for it must be supposed 
that this conversation was taking place at home. 

“There, boy, that just agrees with what I’ve 
heerd. Only three nights ago I lay awake and 
listened to the most distracting cries you ever 
^ heerd. Seemed jess like a child crying when it 
begin, and then it sounded like a grown person, 
to end oif with a terrible scream as if it were a 
ghost.” 


212 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


213 


‘ ‘ How do you know, Aunt Vinnie, that ghosts 
have such screams?’’ asked Joe, who was in- 
clined to discredit the story. 

‘‘They say,” spoke up Chick, “that an awful 
murder was done here once. A man living here 
all alone was killed by another man working 
for him, and it was supposed that this man died 
here himself, for he was never seen after- 
wards. ’ ’ 

“Oh, nonsense. Chick,” said Mrs. Bayne, 
“you must not believe all you are told.” 

“What everybody says must be so,” per- 
sisted Chick. “Ruddy has heard as much as I 
have, only he daresn’t tell of it.” 

“I had darst.to speak of it,” retorted the lat- 
ter. “And I heard Bill Wythe say that he had 
been past here in the night when the house 
would be all lighted from cellar to garret and 
nobody was living here then either.” 

“He just told you that to frighten you. 
Ruddy,” said Joe. “I have not seen anything 
strange since we have come here. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I have, ’ ’ affirmed Ruddy. “Just Thursday 
night—” 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


2^A 


‘‘You didn’t hear that Thursday night,” in- 
terrupted Chick. 

“I did.” 

“You didn’t. You were fast asleep and snor- 
ing all the time, ’cos I prodded you— ” 

“I weren’t asleep any more’n you were. 
Chick Nobody. I was just making believe to 
see what would be done. ’ ’ 

“You lie. Ruddy from Nowhere,” replied 
Chick. “And if you don’t take back that name 
you called me I’ll lick you.” 

“You can’t. Nobody’s Chicken, and you know 
it. I downed you only yesterday in the garden 
and—” 

“I’ll show you how you downed me!” cried 
the redoubtable Chick, catching hold of Ruddy. 

“Stop, boys!” said Joe. “There is nothing 
to quarrel over. I wouldn’t be so foolish.” 

“He don’t sass me,” muttered Chick, giving 
Ruddy a push which sent him reeling back- 
ward. 

By this time the latter ’s anger was raised, and 
springing to his feet he rushed upon the other, 
when the twain closed in a furious struggle for 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


215 


the mastery. In vain the older members of the 
group tried to part them. 

‘ ‘ Oh, dearie me ! ’ ’ cried Aunt Vinnie, ‘ ‘ ’em 
boys will be the death and destruction of me. 
Here, Chick! here. Ruddy, do stop that fight- 
ing. Oh, Buddy ! they pull their lights and liv- 
ers right out’n their bodies. I’m thankful thet 
I was never a boy 1 ’ ’ 

Joe was about to interpose again, when she 
discovered some one coming up the road at a 
run. 

^ Ht ’s Mary, ’ ’ she declared. ^ ‘ It must be they 
have let her off from work this afternoon. How 
anxious she must be to get home the way she is 
coming. ’ ’ 

^^She is crying,” said Mrs. Little. ‘^Why, 
Mary, what has happened?” running forward 
to meet the girl who was coming toward the 
house as fast as she could run, her hair fiying in 
the air and a wild, hunted look on her face. 

‘‘They are after me!” she cried. “Don’t let 
them get me ! Don ’t let them get me. I never 
did it! I never did it!” 

Mary then fell into the outstretched arms of 


216 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


her mother, where she lay without speaking hut 
sobbing as if her heart would break. 

‘‘What is it, Mary! what is it, my child?” 
begged the mother. ‘ ‘ Tell me the worst, Mary ; 
if it be ever so bad I’ll not believe it.” 

Joe and the bthers were now beside them, and 
doing what they could to soothe the weeping 
girl. 

“Let’s get her into the house,” said Joe. 

“Hide me somewhere!” implored Mary. 
“Don’t let ’em get me. I never stole the 
things. ’ ’ 

“IVho said you stole?” asked the mother. 

“Mrs. Cornhill and the rest. They claim they 
have been missing things right along since I 
have been there, but I never took a thing. I do 
not care what they say.” 

“Don’t let that worry you, my child. We will 
not believe it, and they shall not touch you. ’ ’ 

“They will!” she panted. “The sheriff is 
after me now. I ran away from him and the 
others, but they are following me. I ran all the 
way up here.” 

“I wish Rob was here,” said Joe, the tears 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


217 


filling her eyes. ‘‘But they shan’t take yon 
away, Mary, if we can help it.” 

‘‘Yon can’t. Let me hide somewhere.” 

“Yon shall,” cried her mother. “Come into 
the honse. ’ ’ 

The others followed the mother and her 
danghter, not knowing what to do or say. 

“I do not believe they will come way np here 
after yon,” said Joe, more hopefully than she 
felt. 

‘ ‘ They will. I heard ’Squire Hardy say that 
he would send every one of us to the jail or 
county farm inside of two weeks. And that boy 
of his shouted after me, and when I ran he gave 
chase. He overtook me, but when he tried to 
drag me back, or hold me until the sheriff got 
there, I pushed him over the bank and ran 
again. ’ ’ 

“Did— did you kill him?” fairly gasped her 
mother. 

“I don’t know. Where can I hide?” 

Confused and excited the others began to look 
about for some corner or place of concealment 
for the fugitive girl, without stopping to think 


218 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


if it was right or wrong to do so, when Chick 
dashed into the house, crying: 

‘‘They are coming— right here— ’Squire 
Hardy, Sheriff Stanyan, and two or three 
others ! ’ ’ 

“We’re too late!” moaned Mrs. Little. “I 
will fight before they shall take her away.” 

“You must not do that,” said Joe. “Then 
they would take you, too. Quick, mother, get 
Mary into the closet in my room, while I go out 
and stop them so they shall not come into the 
house. ’ ’ 

By the time the brave Joe had reached the 
door the officer and his companions were within 
a few yards of the house. 

At sight of her they stopped, the sheriff say- 
ing: 

“We want the girl who has been at work to 
Deacon Cornhill’s. If she will come out peace- 
fully the rest of you will not be troubled.” 

“At this time,” added ’Squire Hardy. 

“What do you want of Mary Little?” asked 
Joe, showing very little fear as she spoke. 


BREAK DAY BOYS. 


219 


am not obliged to answer that, miss. 
Stand aside and let me come in.” 

‘ ‘ This is our house, sir, and I do not know as 
I am obliged to let you come in until you have 
told me your errand. ’ ’ 

Joe was surprised herself at the calmness 
with which she spoke, and she stood at her post 
undaunted. 

‘‘I will show the little vixen who is who!” 
cried the infuriated sheriff. ‘‘Let me come in, 
girl, or I will—” 

“Don’t do anything rash, Stanyan,” admon- 
ished Hardy. ‘ ‘ If we manage this right we can 
land the whole crowd in jail before night.” 


CHAPTER XXV. 


TBIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 

‘HsnT there another doorP’ asked the sher- 
iff. ‘‘I do not care to meddle with this vixen 
if I can help it. ’ ^ 

‘‘You had better not,” cried Joe, but her 
heart began to fail as she realized how helpless 
she was. She could only hope that the others 
had succeeded in secreting Mary so the officers 
could not find her. But if they did, what then? 

The sheriff lost no time in seeking the side 
door, ’Squire Hardy and one of the men remain- 
ing in front, as if he was afraid to face the 
brave girl in the doorway alone. 

“It will be better for the girl to come along 
peacefully,” he said. 

But Joe made no reply, while she listened for 
sounds of what was taking place within the 
house. 


220 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


221 


Sheriff Stanyan did not gain an entrance un- 
til Mary had been concealed in a closet, but the 
frightened aspect of the little group in the 
room told the keen-eyed officer that he was on 
the right track. 

• ‘ ‘ Where is the girl T ^ he demanded. ^ ^ Oh, she 
need not think she can escape me. I saw her 
enter this house, and I will find her if we have 
to tear the old shell down. It is a fitting abode 
for such as you, and you may thank your stars 
that I am not after the whole of you.’’ 

Mrs. Bayne tried to speak, hut the words 
died away in a whisper, while Mrs. Little could 
only sob out her anguish. 

At that moment Mr. Little, leaning heavily on 
his cane, entered the room. He had overheard 
enough to know what was causing the excite- 
ment, and facing the sheriff he said, defiantly : 

‘‘Our daughter a thief, never, sir! Begone 
from these premises, and never darken—” 

“So you dare to offer resistance T’ cried the 
officer. “Nothing suits me better than to snap 
these handcuffs on your wrists, which no doubt 
have felt their like before.” 


222 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


The woman screamed, and Mr. Little in his 
righteous indignation ordered the sheriff to 
stand back. In the midst of the scene the door 
opened, and Mary Little stepped into the apart- 
ment, saying: 

^^Let them take me, father. It will be better 
so. I am not a thief, but it does not matter 
what they do with me. ’ ’ 

Tears and cries of pain followed, but they 
availed nothing. Eager to finish his work the 
officer took Mary Little by the arm and led her 
from the room, his associates covering his re- 
treat. 

Don’t let them rob me of my child!” 
moaned the distracted mother, but her grief and 
her appeals fell on hearts of stone. 

Joe Willet realized how futile had been their 
defence, as she saw the exultant party drive 
away with poor Mary in their midst, a prisoner 
charged with stealing from her employer. 

At the same time Mary was being taken away 
by Sheriff Stanyan, Larry Little, without 
dreaming of the ill-fate which had overtaken his 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


223 


sister, was the central figure in a scene of most 
peculiar and vivid interest. 

The young orator paused suddenly in the 
midst of his speech, and at sight of Pluto Sny- 
der the following words fled from his mind. 

‘‘Get down from there, you cow-headed—’^ 

‘ ‘ Stop the fool ! ’ ’ cried some one directing his 
remarks against the new-comer rather than 
Larry. 

A constable happening to stand near, and 
misunderstanding the real situation he seized 
upon poor Pluto and began to drag him from 
the scene. The more the hapless young Snyder 
struggled the firmer he was held in the grasp 
of the officer, who showed him no mercy, but 
pulled him away, while the crowd cheered him 
for his efforts. 

In a moment the quiet was restored, but 
Larry stood dumb with dismay, and unable to 
know what to do. 

“Go on!” cried Job Wescott. “The feller 
shan’t pester you any more.” 

Others *urged Larry to proceed, and like one 
taking a leap in the dark, he re-opened his 


224 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


speech. The w^ll-rounded period of the law- 
student gone from him, Larry was obliged to 
depend on himself. It was the best thing that 
could have happened to him. Fortunately, too, 
he selected a subject familiar to him, and in 
glowing language he pictured the lives of those 
lowly ones dwelling in the narrow streets and 
dark alleys of the great city who had never 
heard of a Fourth of July, much more tasted 
of its joys. 

As he kept on Larry really waxed eloquent, 
and for more than twenty minutes he held his 
listeners’ undivided attention. It was an ad- 
dress which is still talked over at Gainsboro. 
At its close a deafening applause, which lasted 
for several minutes, rang up and down the 
grove. 

YHien he stepped down from the platform 
Larry was greeted by a circle of admirers, and 
as soon as she could reach his side Lucy came 
forward with her compliments which were 
worth more than all the other praise showered 
upon him. But he was too confused to speak 
intelligibly. 


BRPJAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


225 


was all a mistake— a miserable mistake, 

and— 

At this juncture Pluto Snyder, having broken 
away from his captors, reached the spot, and 
boiling with rage he cried out : 

‘‘Let me get at the hoodlum! He stole my 
speech- he is a sneaking—’’ 

Seeing Lucy standing by Larry he suddenly 
stopped his storm of abuse, saying in a milder 
tone : 

“You here. Miss Lucy, in the company of such 
a scape-goat? Let us go home, and I will tell 
you of the miserable trick he played on me.” 

Lucy Howlitt, to whom all this was a mystery, 
not liking the appearance of Mr. Snyder under 
his excitement, declined to go home with him, 
pleading that her father was waiting for her. 

Thereupon the crest-fallen law-student went 
away in a high dudgeon using language neither 
becoming a gentleman or fitting to be spoken in 
the presence of a lady. 

“Come, Lawrence,” said Lucy, “you will 
please ride home with papa and me. There is 
plenty of room, and I want to hear your expla- 


226 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


nation of this affair. I did not dream you were 
capable of making such an address. ^ ’ 

As she would not take no for an answer, and 
Mr. Howlitt joined his invitation with his 
daughter’s, Larry could do no better than to 
accept. On the way home he showed his innate 
honesty by confessing to all he knew of the mat- 
ter of the speech, which did not throw much 
light on the situation, though to his joy neither 
Mr. Howlitt nor Lucy blamed him. 

‘‘You say the last part was original with 
you?” said the last. “I think that was alto- 
gether the best, and I am proud of you, Law- 
rence. ’ ’ 

“Pluto Snyder is a silly coxcomb,” said her 
father, “and T am glad if he has been taken 
down a notch.” 

The next day Job Wescott acknowledged that 
he had caused young Snyder to miss coming to 
the celebration in season to address the meeting, 
and that his coming at all was simply because 
the one left in charge of Pluto had been bought 
otf by the irate ‘ ‘ orator. ’ ’ 

“I’ll I’arn him how to use offensive stutf at 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


227 


me. I jess paid off an old debt, and Larry 
weren’t a whit to blame. But, my gum! didn’t 
he hum with madness. I tell ye ye never see 
what it is for one to be mad until ye hev seen a 
fool lose his temper.” 

Though the Howlitts were disposed to blame 
Job for the part he had taken, Larry rose in 
their estimation, and another’s loss was his 
gain. 

A little later Larry forgot all about his re- 
cent triumph by hearing of the fate which had 
befallen his sister, and he lost no time in going 
home to learn the whole truth. 


CHAPTER XXVL 


FROM BAD TO WORSE. 

The arrest of Mary Little for theft at Deacon 
CornhilPs was a hitter blow to her friends, none 
of whom could believe her guilty. 

Rob lost no time in going to the Cornhill 
home, hoping that he could enlist the folks in 
his favor, or at least get at the truth of the mat- 
ter. But he found Mrs. Cornhill fully convinced 
of Mary’s guilt, and severely blaming herself 
that she had ever let the ‘4dle hussy into the 
house. ’ ’ 

It was in vain that Rob pleaded that Mary 
had been a faithful servant. . The fact remained 
that Mrs. Cornhill had ^ been missing article 
after article from the household ever since the 


228 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


229 


girl had come to work for her. She had not 
spoken of this at first, as she had been so favor- 
ably impressed by her that she had hesitated 
about accusing her of such misdoings. Finally, 
after watching and waiting for weeks, she had 
felt obliged to act in the matter. 

Deacon Cornhill was now so far recovered 
from his recent illness as to sit up in his great 
easy chair, though he was but a shadow of his 
former genial self. 

‘‘Don’t be hard on the gal, Maria,” he said, 
compassionately. “No doubt she was driven to 
it. The articles were not worth very—” 

“’Tweren’t the wurth but the principle in 
it, ’ ’ snapped his wife. ‘ ‘ Arter the way I treated 
her to hev the idle hussy turn on us just at this 
time of all others,” and the good woman fell 
to crying. 

“Don’t break down, Maria,” said he, but his 
own voice was husky and Rob was sure there 
were tears in his eyes. 

Mistaking the cause of this emotion Rob spoke 
more hopefully, when he learned that he and his 


230 


BBEAKO^DAY BOYS. 


friends were not alone in their misfortunes, as 
disaster had overtaken this family. It proved 
that Deacon Cornhill had become responsible 
for large sums of money through another indi- 
vidual, and this person proving worthless, he 
was held for the full amount. When this should 
be paid practically every dollar would he swept 
away, and he and his family would be turned 
out of home, penniless. 

“The earnings of two lives, my father’s and 
mine, are thus lost and Maria and I are homeless 
and friendless, for at this time, when we need 
our friends most, there is not one to speak a 
consoling word. I ennamost wish the fever had 
done its work, for I had rather been laid in my 
grave than to have lived to see this day.” 

“Oh, Elihu! it is wicked to talk like that,” 
said his wife. “But it is dreadful to be fobbed 
of our home at this time in life. ’ ’ 

Eob went away feeling that he was not alone 
in his misfortunes, and when he told the others 
at Break o ’ Day good Deacon Cornhill had sev- 
eral sincere sympathizers, if they were help- 
less ones. 


BKEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


231 


While the arrest of Mary, who was then in 
jail where she must remain until her trial nearly 
two months later, cast a gloom over the entire 
party they could do nothing for her. 

Bob returned to work at Deacon CornhilDs, 
where he was greatly needed, every other hand 
having deserted him at this critical time on the 
ground that he could not pay them. As much 
as he needed his wages Little Hickory resolved 
to take his chances, pitying the unfortunate man 
in his distress and believing he would eventually 
pay him all that was due to him. 

Larry remained at Mr. Howlitt’s, probably 
the happiest of the entire number who had come 
to Basinburg. 

So far, Tom and Jerry had not found situa- 
tions, and had remained at home. But 
Rob secured a chance for them in a portable 
saw mill, where they went to work. 

This was a severe ^‘breaking in” for them, 
and more than once both were on the verge of 
throwing up their jobs. Probably the only 
thing that kept them at work was the fear that 
Little Hickory would send them back. Their 


232 


BKEAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


task was to take away the boards after they had 
been thrown from the carriage by the sawyer, 
and at times they had to hustle to keep the 
‘‘run’’ clear. Not a night but found them glad 
to ^eek their rude bunks at an early hour, where 
they slept ‘ ‘ like Turks, ’ ’ as the expression goes. 

As the mill was located more than three miles 
from home, and stood in the midst of the timber- 
lot, they did not go home oftener than once a 
week. 

They boarded with the rest of the hands in 
the “shanty,” but as there was not room enough 
for them there to sleep they had to make up 
“shake-downs” in the mill. As it was warm 
weather they rather liked this arrangement. 

They were reasonably faithful to their em- 
ployer, and everything appeared to be going on 
well, until one afternoon while the sawyer was 
crowding them uncommonly hard with boards 
they got behind so that the course got com- 
pletely filled. 

Now it is always easier to keep square with 
one’s work than to catch up when time has been 
lost. The fault, such as it was, was really Tom’s 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


233 


as lie had taken half an hour’s rest, saying it 
would be an easy matter to clear the run. 

But the time was lost and in vain they worked 
to recover what they had neglected to keep. 
The sawyer was a crusty old man who shouted 
angrily at them to clear the way. Unfortu- 
nately the boss happened along just then, and 
seeing the situation he ordered that another 
hand should be put on the work. 

Tom resented this and answered back some- 
what hastily. Bitter words followed, and al- 
most before he knew it, Tom had lost his situa- 
tion, and Jerry was frightened over the affair. 

It was then nearly night, and having a dread 
of going home, Tom resolved to remain with his 
brother until morning, intending then to ac- 
knowledge his fault and beg of the boss to be al- 
lowed to return to his post. Had he done this 
then and there it would have saved him an or- 
deal of which he little dreamed. 

It could not have been far from midnight, as 
he was tossing uneasily on his rough couch, 
while he pondered upon his recent mistake, 
when he heard some one moving about the mill. 


234 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Then he discovered two youths a little older 
than himself sneaking cautiously about the 
premises. 

One of this couple carried a lighted torch in 
his hand, which he kept moving to and fro 
as he led his companion over the place. 

‘^Look out, Phil,’’ said the latter, ‘‘or you will 
set the old shell on fire.” 

“Sho! this wouldn’t burn it’s so green,” and 
as if to prove his words he thrust the burning 
brand into the midst of a pile of combustible 
matter. To his dismay the dried material in- 
stantly ignited, and the flames sprang upward 
with a suddenness and fury that frightened the 
new-comers. 

“You have set the mill on fire!” gasped the 
other. 

“Quick!” exclaimed he who had done the 
mischief, dropping the torch in his terror, ‘ ‘ run 
for your life, Nate. We must not be found 
here.” 

By this time Tom had sprung from his couch, 
but he was too late to stop the runaway boys, 
though he did reach the scene of the fire and just 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


235 


picked up the smouldering torch as one of the 
mill-men, who had been attracted hither by its 
light appeared on the scene. 

‘‘Here, you little devil!’’ he roared. “Try- 
ing to burn up the mill are you? It’s lucky I 
have caught you at your devilish work.” 

Tom was powerless to flee, if he had wished 
to, and in a moment he found himself flung to 
the floor by a pair of strong arms, and just as 
his brother reached the spot he was tied hands 
and feet. 

Jerry was then seized and treated in the same 
manner. 

Though others came speedily to the scene the 
fire had gained such a headway in the short time 
that the mill was burned down in spite of all 
that could be done to save it. 

In vain Tom and Jerry pleaded their inno- 
cence. The last had not seen the two hoys prowl- 
ing about the place, and Tom’s story was ridi- 
culed until he held his tongue in hitter silence. 
His quarrel with the boss of the previous after- 
noon was retold, and with the hatred of their 
former associates raised against them the hap- 


236 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


less brothers were taken as prisoners on the 
serions charge of incendiarism. 

‘‘That’s good for twenty years apiece,” said 
’Sqnire Hardy, rubbing his hands in a pleased 
manner. “We’re picking them off one by one, 
and now the deacon has got shut off, the work 
will be easier.” 


CHAPTER XXVIL 

‘ ‘ IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS. ’ ’ 

The misfortune which had fallen upon Tom 
and Jerry was a terrible blow to those at Break 
o’Day. This seemed hut the precursor of even 
worse troubles to follow. 

Aunt Vinnie was distracted, and the rest had 
all they could do to keep her from going to see 
‘‘her boys,” as useless as would have been such 
a course. 

Rob and Joe, the bravest of the little party, 
did all they could to soothe the sorrow of their 
friends, trying to solace them with the hopeless 
thought that it is always darkest just before 
dawn. 

“Do not give up,” said Rob. “Larry and I 
are earning wages, and we will hope that Tom 

237 


238 


BEEAKO’DAY BOYS. 


and Jerry and Mary will be set free when their 
trials come. Mrs. Cornhill only yesterday 
seemed very sorry that she had proceeded 
against Mary.’’ 

“Bnt my boys ! how can you save them? Ah, 
it was the sorriest day of my life when we left 
the city, with all its wickedness for this friend- 
less wilderness where everybody is against us ! ” 

‘‘Not all of them. Auntie,” said Joe. “Let us 
not give up.” 

Deacon Cornhill ’s affairs were rapidly grow- 
ing worse, and the poor man seemed to be fail- 
ing in strength, as if the ordeal was more than 
he could stand. Mrs. Cornhill grew fretful and 
more than once she accused Eob of bringing the 
trouble upon them. 

‘ ‘ It came with you, ’ ’ she repeated. ‘ ‘ If the 
deacon had not provoked ’Squire Hardy by 
bringing you and your friends to Break o ’ Day 
he would never have done what he has against 
us, and I firmly believe he is at the root of this 
evil.” 

Eob would attempt no reply to this rather con- 
tradictory speech, but kept on at his work, re- 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


239 


solving to be faithful to his benefactor let the 
result be what it might. 

About ten days after the arrest of Tom and 
Jerry, as Rob was down to the village on busi- 
ness for the deacon, he found that everybody 
there was wildly excited over a robbery that had 
been committed the night before, the store and 
post-office having been broken into by burglars 
and considerable money and property stolen. 

A crowd of men gathered on the piazza, 
conspicuous among whom was ’Squire Hardy, 
were arguing the matter pro and con, as Rob 
drew near. 

‘‘Sam Sawyer is ready to swear on the wit- 
ness stand,” the ’squire was saying, “that the 
man he discovered climbing out of the store 
window last night, and who was one of the burg- 
lars, if there was more than one, was the same 
man he met yesterday afternoon on the Hare 
road, and who inquired the way to Mount Riga, 
which was tlie name once given to Break o’ 
Day.” 

“Didn’t Sam give the name of this stran- 
ger?” asked a bystander. 


240 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


“He did, and that is the best part of it. He 
said he was one Gideon Bayne, and that he lived 
in town here when he was a small boy, but 
thought perhaps people had forgotten him now, 
as he had forgotten the country.’’ 

“Bayne I” half queried, half exclaimed an- 
other, as if the name was one that he vaguely 
recalled. “Wasn’t that old miser’s name 
Bayne, who lived and died at the old red house 
when such a flurry was raised hereabouts?” 

“Just that— Timothy Bayne. Folks thought 
he was killed by his hired man, but neither could 
be found when they come to look for ’em. They 
were a hard crowd.” 

“But old Tim Ba^me had neither chick nor 
child, living all alone.” 

“That does not hinder him from having 
thieving relatives, running around the country 
breaking into stores and post-offices, does it?” 

“But Tim Bayne owned all of that quarter 
of the town when he died, though I can’t say 
it was very valuable.” 

“Just so, and there being no one to claim it 
when he died or disappeared— I never thought 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


241 


the man was dead— the Cornhills got the whole 
of it for a mere song. Bnt it hasn’t done the 
deacon much good. Ill-gotten gains never do,” 
added the ’squire, aiming to be philosophical. 

‘ ‘ I don ’t quite recall any other Bayne in town 
in them days,” declared an old resident, 
‘^though my memory doesn’t often go back on 
me.” 

‘‘That may he, bnt it doesn’t require much 
memory to recall the fag-end Bayne that we 
have with us now,” remarked ’Squire Hardy, 
who had just seen Rob, who had stopped at the 
outside of the party. “Say, youngster, wasn’t 
your father Gid Bayne?” 

The question was so unexpected, the situation 
so ominous to him in its outcome, that Little 
Hickory had hard work to command his feel- 
ings. As it was he feared a moment later that he 
had betrayed himself by his looks. 

“I have just come, sir, and I do not know 
what you mean. ’ ’ 

“Calculate you’d know if you wanted to. 
There is no doubt you belong to the same breed 
of cats, for there was never but one family by 


242 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


that name. By , it is a mighty apt one too. 

I don’t see why Stanyan don’t come. If I was 
sheriff I’d manage to he on hand once in my 
life.” 

Rob thought it good policy for him to with- 
draw from the company, bnt he had not taken 
half a dozen steps before the ’squire thundered 
at him : 

‘‘You stop where you are, Rob Bayne. We 
are going up to your place as soon as the sheriff 
gets here, and we want you to go with us. ” 

“What errand can you have at our home, 
sir?” demanded Little Hickory, with flashing 
eyes, having recovered his usual self-possession. 

“Your stupid head is thicker than I think if 
you do not know already. If you do not know 
it may save you a short time of the bitter dose 
you are going to take. Here comes Stanyan, 
and there is no need to delay longer.” 

The sheriff was indeed driving up to the 
place, and the ’squire immediately ordered his 
team to be brought in front of the store. 

“Here is the chip-of-the-old-block Bayne,” 
declared Hardy, waving his hand toward Rob. 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


243 


‘I thought it would be a good thing to take him 
right along.-’ 

‘‘A capital idea,” replied the officer. ^^Jump 
in here with me, young man, and, mind you, no 
monkeying about this.” 

Rob’s first thought was -to refuse to go, but 
fortunately a wiser judgment decided him, and 
he entered the sheriff’s wagon, saying: 

do not understand what you want of me, 
but I am willing to go, for I have done no 
wrong. ’ ’ 

‘^That remains to be seen,” retorted the offi- 
cer, sharply, and a moment later he started in 
the direction of Break o’ Day, with the ’squire 
close behind him, while as many as a dozen 
teams followed the latter. 

Rob’s mind was deeply impressed with the 
evil about to fall upon him and his friends, but 
he could not see clearly its nature. He could not 
realize that his father, after all the years that 
he had been away, had appeared in this country 
town, making his coming more tragical by being 
concerned in the recent robbery. As yet he could 


244 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


not believe bis father had sunk so low as to be- 
come a common house-breaker. 

As they came in sight of his home Rob caught 
sight of his mother at one of the windows, but 
she quickly disappeared. 

‘‘Look out sharp for the youngster, Hardy,” 
called out the sheriff. “I will look after our 
man inside, while the rest of you,” addressing 
his companions, “surround the house and see 
that the dog does not escape. Remember, you 
will be justified in shooting him if he offers re- 
sistance.” 

Having given this command, Mr. Stanyan 
started toward the door. 

It was opened by Mrs. Little, who asked : 

“What is wanted?” 

“We want him!^’ exclaimed the officer. “I 
am the sheriff, so stand aside for the law.” 

“There is nobody here that you can want, 
sir. We are honest—” 

“We are after Gid Bayne, and we know he 
is hiding here. If he’ll give up peacefully we’ll 
not hurt the rest of you. ’ ’ 

“Who said he was here?” asked the fright- 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


245 


ened woman, and through that question the 
hopes of Rob fell like lead. His father was 
there! 

‘‘I do!” thundered the sheriff, and Mrs. Lit- 
tle retreated before his terrific appearance. 

How Little Hickory chafed at his own help- 
lessness, and catching sight of his mother at 
that moment, he cried to her : 

‘‘Do not let them frighten you, mother. They 
cannot harm you.” 

“YHiat do you accuse my husband of now?” 
she demanded of the officer, bravely facing the 
other. 

“Of breaking and entering the store and post- 
office of Basinburg.” 

“He is innocent, sir.” 

“Bah! who heeds the words of such as you? 
It will prove a sweet job for him when we catch 
him. Where is he?” 

“That remains for you to say, and not me, 
sir. I am only a defenceless woman, but it will 
be a sorry hour if you harm me.” 

With these spirited words she stepped aside, 
allowing the officer and his followers to enter. 


246 


BREAK 0^D AY BOYS. 


A furious search followed, when the old house 
was ransacked from cellar to garret. Every 
corner and niche imaginable was searched, the 
sheriff sparing neither time nor the building, 
but look where and how he would he could find 
no trace of the fugitive. 

Finally, his dark features livid with rage, he 
joined ’Squire Hardy, giving expression to 
words unfit to repeat here. 

“He must have got wind of our coming and 
run away,” declared the ’squire. “But if so, 
we can and must find him, Stanyan.” 

“You can bet your bottom dollar that T will 
find him if I have to move heaven and earth to 
do it,” replied the sheriff. “More than that, I 
will take the boy here with us, and if he doesn’t 
get a place to hang his hat for the next ten years 
I’ll resign my office.” 

Then the party prepared to drive away, with 
Little Hickory a prisoner among them. 

Seeing what was being done ^ Mrs. Bayne 
rushed out of the house, crying in her despair : 

“Oh, sir! don’t take my boy. He has done 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


247 


nothing but what is right. His father had 
rather—” 

“Stop, mother!” cried Little Hickory, stern- 
ly. “Say nothing you may repent of later. I 
go without resistance, and you must keep up 
good courage here until I get hack.” 

^Squire Hardy looked back at the weeping 
spectators they were leaving behind with a 
mocking laugh. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


THE SKELETON IN THE CELLAR. 

Mrs. Bayne was wild with grief as she saw 
Rob taken away in this heartless way. 

‘‘This is the worst blow yet,’’ she moaned. 
“Oh, why have they taken my boy, onr sup- 
port?” 

“And my poor Mary!” cried Mrs. Little. 

“And my hoys, Tom and Jerry,” added Aunt 
Vinnie. 

It was a hopeless group, and Joe, the only 
one among them who could look bravely up had 
all she could do to try and console them. 

‘ ‘ Let us hope for the best, ’ ’ she said. ‘ ‘ They 
cannot harm Rob. He has surely done no 
wrong.” 

“But we are so helpless,” said Mr. Little. 
“That infernal—” 

“Hush-hush!” spoke up Joe. “You must 

248 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


249 


be careful how you speak. We can only hope 
and wait.’’ 

‘^Oli, that Gideon should come home at this 
time and under such conditions as these,” 
moaned the distracted wife. 

Don’t condemn him, said Joe, courage- 
ously. ‘‘We know all others are innocent, and 
we will think he is until we know ditf erently. ” 

“He says he is not guilty of this terrible 
thing. But what will become of us? We are 
so helpless.” 

“We must not give np,” said Joe. “I won- 
der what they will do with Rob. I’ve a mind 
to go to the village.” 

“Go, Joe. We can take care of ourselves.” 

“I think you had better,” assented Mr. Lit- 
tle. “How I wish that I was well again. It is 
so hard to sutler and do nothing when one is so 
needed. ’ ’ 

“But you are so much better than in the 
city,” said Mrs. Little. “It is that alone which 
keeps me from wishing that I was back to the 
city once more.” 

Having decided to go to Basinburg, Joe lost 


250 


BREAK O’ DAY BOYS. 


no more time in making sncli preparations as 
she conld for the visit, having really no idea of 
what good it could do. She hoped to find out 
what would he done with Hob, and that was in- 
centive enough. 

She was ready to start in less than five min- 
utes. She had very little change to make in her 
apparel for the reason that, despite the desires 
of Hob, she had not allowed much to be bought 
for her. She did have a new print dress, a pair 
of shoes, and a straw hat. These she put on 
in place of her everyday clothes, and, bidding 
the others to be of good cheer until she returned, 
she started on a run toward the village. 

So rapidly did she go that inside of half an 
hour she came in sight of the village. 

The crowd about the store was larger than 
when Hob had been there, and the excitement 
was running higher than ever. She learned 
that Hob had been put under close surveillance, 
and that the sheriff and his posse were search- 
ing for Gideon Bayne. 

At first nobody seemed to notice her, and then 
she began to attract attention, when sneering 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


251 


remarks were made in regard to her, and she 
heard several suggest that it would be the 
proper thing to arrest her as one of a gang of 
outlaws and public enemies. 

She did not mind this as much as she would 
have done under ordinary circumstances. In 
her anxiety to learn what she could of Rob she 
dared much, ay, jeopardized her own safety. 

When she had regained confidence she learned 
that no harm would be done him until another 
day, when he would be given a justice trial, be- 
fore being taken to jail. 

Determined to be present, she started home- 
ward, happily unconscious that it had already 
been decided to arrest her, though she was not 
followed to her home. 

Incidentally she had learned that Deacon 
Cornhill had been demanded to meet his liabil- 
ities, and that he was about to sign over all his 
property to satisfy his creditors. 

These things were among those she told to 
her anxious friends at home, whom she found 
anxiously awaiting her coming. 

No new development had taken place since 


252 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


her departure, except that two or three men had 
been seen hovering about the house, whom it 
was thought were spies who had been left by 
Sheriff Stanyan. 

So the occupants of the old red house saw the 
shades of night fall with dire misgivings. 

To make their situation more gloomy, threat- 
enings of a storm appeared, and the wind 
moaned dismally through the trees overhanging 
the back side of the building. 

“I shall go crazy, declared Aunt Vinnie. 

At that moment Chick and Ruddy, their faces 
white with terror, burst into the room, ex- 
claiming : 

‘‘We have heard it aghn! There are ghosts, 
and they are crying and moaning ‘Murder! 
Murder!’ ” 

This announcement, given at this time, sent 
a thrill of horror through the frames of the lit- 
tle group, the most of whom shivered and re- 
mained silent. 

“Nonsense, Chick,” said Joe. “You were 
frightened and imagined you heard such 
sounds. ’ ’ 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


253 


‘ ‘ Come up into tlie back chamber if you think 
we lie, Joe. I—’’ 

A peal of thunder caused the frightened 
Chick to stop in the midst of his speech, while 
he crept nearer the others. 

The first alarm of the rising storm was 
quickly followed by another flash of lightning 
and a second peal of thunder, louder and nearer 
than the first. 

Soon after the rain began to fall, while the 
lightning and the thunder gradually passed 
over, but not until it seemed as if the old house 
would be destroyed. 

When the fury of the storm was beginning 
to wane the little party of frightened people 
slowly gained courage. 

^^It must be leaking into the chambers,” said 
Joe. will get one or two of those old buckets 
in the cellar and put them under <he worst 
places. ’ ’ 

^‘Oh, don’t dare to move,” admonished Aunt 
Vinnie. ‘ ‘ This is awful. ’ ’ 

Not to be deterred from her purpose, Joe 
lighted the stump of a candle, and carefully de- 


254 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


scended the old stairs leading the damp, 
musty cellar. But she had not gone far before 
she was startled to find a light already in the 
dismal place. 

At first she thought the house must be on fire, 
but a second look showed her that the glare came 
from a lantern, and in a moment she was alert 
for what might be discovered. 

Concealing her own light behind her, instead 
of crying out or beating a hasty retreat, she 
descended the stair more stealthily than before 
until she could command a full view of the 
cellar. 

What she now saw was a sight calculated to 
have sent a thrill of terror to the heart of a less 
brave girl. 

Three men were near the farthest corner, one 
of them holding the lantern, while another was 
digging hurriedly into the earth, the third seem- 
ing to have no other occupation than to watch 
the work of his laboring companion. 

‘‘Hark!’’ he exclaimed suddenly, ‘‘I thought 
I heard some one move.’’ 

*‘Bosh!” said the one with the lantern. 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


255 


never see yon so nervous, Jed, as you are to- 
night. It was only one of the trees scraping 
ag’inst the roof of the old house.” 

‘‘I guess you’d he nervous if you were in my 
place. A man’s mind plays the deuce with him 
sometimes. I ain’t forgot— ” 

‘^So does his tongue,” interrupted the other. 
‘‘The— ha! you have reached it. Bill.” 

Joe could hear the spade strike something 
which gave hack a hollow, metallic sound that 
sent a shiver through her body, hut she bravely 
stood her ground. 

The man with the spade resumed his work, 
throwing up the earth faster than before, until 
suddenly he stopped. He peered closer into 
the pit he had dug. 

“Hold the lantern lower. Bill.” 

The other quickly obeyed, when the one who 
had made the request gave expression to a low 
cry of dismay. 

He holding the light now looked sharper 
down into the ground, when he exclaimed : 

“Great heavens! it is a human skeleton! 
What does this mean, Jed!” 


256 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Then the trembling man called by this name 
glanced downward, to start back with a wild 
cry of fear. 

“I made a mistake, boys. I— I—’’ 

He started to flee without finishing his sen- 
tence. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

AM GIDEON BAYNE.'' 

Before Joe could realize just what was taking 
place, and the terrified man had not taken his 
second step, a section of the big chimney which 
had been builded from the bottom of the cellar 
was violently torn down, and from out of the 
midst of flying brick and debris stood the figure 
of a man. 

Seen by the dim lantern light he appeared 
like a giant in stature, while in either hand he 
held a cocked revolver, one weapon leveled at 
the fleeing miscreant, while the other was 
pointed toward his confederates, while his sten- 
torian voice, sounding uncommonly loud and 
clear in that underground room, commanded : 

‘^Hold! another step and I will measure the 
earth with your foul body!" 

257 


258 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


lost!^’ cried the frightened fugitive, 
falling upon his knees. ‘‘It^s the ghost of Tim 
Bayne ! ’ ’ 

It was little wonder if the man’s companions 
stood trembling with fear, and that Joe Willet, 
brave girl that she was, nearly fainted. 

Slowly advancing from the cloud of dust and 
dirt which had enveloped his form, the man with 
the deadly weapons continued: 

have caught you in your own trap. The 
man who lifts a finger dies like a dog. It would 
be a blessing to mankind if I should send these 
bullets through your worthless bodies.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, spare me, spare me ! ” begged the wretch 
upon his knees. ‘ ‘ I did not want to come here, 
but they made me. It was the buried treasure 
that did it. We were going away as soon as we 
had got that. ’ ’ 

A commotion which had been suddenly started 
overhead at that moment arrested the attention 
of the other. Besides loud voices could be heard 
the tramp of many feet, so that it seemed as if 
a large party of men had forced an entrance 
into the house. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


259 


Joe Aad heard this sudden outbreak above, 
and it instantly occurred to her that the sheriff 
and his posse had returned. 

But the peril, as great as it was, seemed to 
arouse her to swift action. Though the man 
who was holding the desperadoes at bay was 
unknown to her, he was proving himself an 
enemy to the night marauders, and this fact 
told her that she could look to him for friend- 
ship. 

In this dilemma she boldly addressed him, 
who showed no surprise at her words. 

need your assistance,^’ he said. ‘‘Get me 
some strong cord or rope so I may secure my 
birds. After that we will look further.” 

“I will get you a rope in a minute,” replied 
Joe, starting up the stairs. 

It was prudent that she should move cau- 
tiously, expecting as she did that she was to find 
enemies in the house. But she had barely 
reached the top of the stairs before the well- 
known voice of Little Hickory came to her ears, 
sending a thrill of joy to her heart. 

‘ ‘ Where is Joel” he asked. 


260 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


‘^Here!’^ she replied, bursting into the room, 
and regardless of the others present she threw 
herself into his arms, sobbing: 

‘ ‘ I am so glad you have come, Rob. ’ ’ 

‘‘I hope nothing more has happened here to 
harm you, Joe. Dr. Menter got home this even- 
ing, and upon hearing of my predicament he 
would not rest until he had seen me. Then he 
called ^Squire Hardy out of his bed, and de- 
manded my release in such terms that I was 
given up at once. But he has come with us. 
Thank him, Joe, for what we owe to him.’* 

Joe now saw that the genial doctor was pres- 
ent, and he stepped forward to grasp her hand. 
She also saw Larry, who was .clasped in his 
mother’s arms. Beside this twain there were 
others present, whom she did not recognize in 
her joy, while she murmured her thanks to Dr. 
Menter for the kind assistance he had given 
Rob. 

‘‘lam his debtor still,” replied the physician. 
“I am glad I got home as I did. I wish I had 
been here before, for I might have saved you 
much suffering.” 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


261 


Then J oe acted very queerly, as it seemed to 
the others, for she suddenly sprang back, say- 
ing: 

^‘Oh, the man in the cellar! I forgot him. 
You must go to his help, Rob, with a rope.’’ 

In a few hurried words she explained the 
startling tableau being enacted below them, 
when Rob and the men with him started to see 
what could be done, while the women stood to- 
gether in a group, half in tears and half in 
fright over the strange situation. 

No change had taken place in the cellar, for 
the unknown man held his victims at bay, not 
one had dared to move. The lantern had 
dropped from the hand of him called Bill, but 
it had not been extinguished. 

‘‘They are a string of precious scamps with 
a good price set on their heads; tie them fast 
and firm.” 

Willing hands did this, and, though the baf- 
fled outlaws raved and cursed, begged and im- 
plored, they were soon prisoners. 

“We came in the nick of time,” said Dr. Men- 
ter, ‘ ‘ and though I do not understand fully what 


262 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


this move means, I feel certain it is going to 
work in yonr favor, Robert. Ha ! what means 
this skeleton here in the ground! I believe we 
are about to get at the mystery of the old red 
house. ’ ’ 

^^You are,’’ said the stranger, who had put 
aside his revolvers, and having brushed the dirt 
from his clothes stood before the rest a fine 
specimen of manhood. ^ ^ I think I can give you 
the key. But let us go above, as I have matters 
of closer interest to me that I want to speak of 
first. 

^‘Rob, though you have grown so I should not 
have recognized you if your name had not been 
spoken, I am Gideon Bayne, your father!^* 


CHAPTER XXX. 


RIGHT TRIUMPHS IN THE END. 

It was not until he had been folded in the 
arms of his new-found father that Little Hick- 
ory could realize the truth of what had been 
spoken. 

They had reached the first floor now, and his 
mother was close beside them, while the others 
stood apart, silent but appreciative spectators. 

am so glad,^^ murmured Mrs. Bayne. 
‘‘Your father did come yesterday, though I 
have not had the opportunity to tell you. It 
seems strange he has come here, yet nat- 
ural that he should. Then the officers came, 
and knowing he was again a hunted man he 
concealed himself in the opening made in the 
old chimney for that very purpose by his ec- 
centric uncle, Timothy Bayne. 

“What your mother says is true, my son,’’ 
said the father. “At last I am free from the 


263 


264 


BEE AK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


law, and no longer a fugitive. I sought for you 
and your mother in the big city till I was forced 
to give up. Then I came here simply because 
Uncle Tim lived here when I was a boy, and I 
was naturally attracted hither. I reached the 
village in the night, to see these miscreants here 
just as they left the store on their depredation. 
It proved that I was watched, and instead of 
hunting for the real culprits I was again made 
a fugitive. But I did not know this until I had 
reached here. 

‘‘You may judge of my surprise and pleasure 
at finding your mother here.’’ 

The others were deeply moved by this simple 
story of a man who had been more wronged 
than guilty. He was still in the prime of life, 
with a stalwart form, clear eyes and fearless 
manner. 

“Now that I have found you,” he resumed, 
“I mean to stay by you, unless you drive me 
away, or the law does. At any rate, I shall con- 
sider myself a fugitive no longer.” 

“Neither are you,” spoke up Dr. Menter. “If 
I mistake not these men in captivity here have 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


265 


a story to tell which will lift much of the cloud 
that hangs over you. At any rate, I am not 
going to let Rob remain any longer the victim 
of a man who has persecuted him out of a mat- 
ter of a little spite against another.^’ 

‘‘You are very kind,^’ replied Rob. 

“Not half as kind, nor one-hundredth part as 
brave, as you were when you staked your life 
to save my dear boy and girl. ’ ’ 

“This is a happy moment,” said Aunt Vin- 
nie, “and if my boys were only here I could 
enjoy it with the rest of you.” 

“And my Mary,” said Mrs. Little. 

“Mary will be with us again before another 
night,” spoke up Larry. “Only this evening I 
learned of a strange thing, and I was coming to 
tell you of it. Lucy Howlitt was up to Deacon 
CornhilDs this afternoon, and Mrs. Cornhill told 
how Mary, as she thought, had been taking 
things, and it wasnT half an hour afterward 
that Lucy caught a tame crow belonging there 
carrying off a silver spoon in its bill. She called 
Mrs. Cornhill, and they watched the crow go 
straight to a place where he hid all of the things 


266 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


that had been lost. Then Mrs. Cornhill knew 
that the crow and not Mary had stolen what she 
had missed, and she cried, she felt so bad over it. 

‘‘That will set Mary free, and Mrs. Cornhill 
is willing to do anything she can to be for- 
given. ’ ’ 

“I am so glad,” mnrmnred the mother. “I 
knew my daughter could not be guilty of such a 
thing as stealing.” 

“It looks as though we were coming out all 
right,” said Rob. 

“So you are, my boy,” said the doctor. 
“Right always triumphs in the end. I had 
rather be in your place than ’Squire Hardy’s by 
a big difference. Now listen. Aunt Vinnie, for 
I have a bit of news that will give you joy as 
well as the others. 

“The boy who was out on a night’s lark with 
Phil Hardy has confessed that he and Phil were 
at the saw-mill the night it burned, and that 
young Hardy set it on fire. Of course Phil de- 
nies it, but it is a crushing blow for the Hardys, 
and it will save your boys from jail.” 

“Hurrah!” cried Aunt Vinnie, shaking her 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


267 


apron in the air, ‘‘this is the happiest moment 
of my life, or will be when I clasp my hoys once 
more in my arms. I did not never see anything 
like this,’’ getting her language somewhat 
twisted, hut her heart was all right and the 
others felt as joyous as she did. 

Leaving the inmates of the old red house to 
enjoy their new peace of mind, and to anticipate 
the happiness of the coming day, Dr. Menter 
looked to the safety of their prisoners. 

When he had seen that they were still secure, 
he called Rob to one side, saying: 

“While our friends here stand guard over 
the captives, how would it do for you and me to 
do a little investigating on our own hookT’ 

Little Hickory and his father willingly as- 
sented, when the three returned to the cellar. 

“I thought it might be as well to keep our 
business to ourselves in part,” said the doctor, 
as soon as they were alone. “I have reason to 
think that we are about to make important dis- 
coveries. ’ ’ 

“I do not think it good policy to say so now 
to everyone, but I am ready to say to you that 


268 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


one of those precious fellows upstairs is the 
murderer of Timothy Bayne. They have said 
enough to let us know that they were here after 
a buried treasure. Do you know anything about 
this, Mr. Bayne 

‘‘Only that uncle was supposed to be very 
wealthy, but eccentric. He was killed for his 
money, as it was supposed, by a man who had 
been working for him. I am sure the ruffian 
upstairs is the man. Whether he got uncle’s 
money is more than I know. They were seeking 
for something of the kind here to-night. ’ ’ 

“Well, we will do a little digging ourselves.” 

Mr. Bayne then took the shovel, but only the 
skeleton mentioned before was divulged to their 
sights. Nothing more. 

“It is probably that of Mr. Bayne,” said the 
doctor. “I do not believe we had better dig 
any more, and we will leave the bones just as we 
found them.” 

“I thought the shovel struck something that 
was not a rock. Let me take it,” said Little 
Hickory. 

Beginning to dig a little to one side of the ex- 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


269 


posed skeleton, he soon unearthed an iron box 
of considerable size, and which proved to be of 
great weight. 

With what feelings the three raised the box 
to the cellar floor may be imagined. 

“It is the buried treasure of Timothy 
Bayne, ’ ’ said Rob in a low tone. ‘ ‘ How firm the 
box is made.” 

“Hold, my son,” said his father. “This 
treasure, if it shall prove such, has been found 
on the property of another man. It is not ours. ’ ’ 

“By as good a right, and better, than any 
one ’s else, ’ ’ said Dr. Menter. ‘ ^ This property is 
n6w in the hands of Deacon Cornhill, who came 
into possession by a collector's deed, it being 
sold for taxes some eighteen or nineteen years 
ago. A deed of this kind is open to contest for 
twenty years. So as heir to Timothy Bayne it 
looks to me as if you could hold the treasure. 
But here we are arguing over what may be a 
valueless thing. Then, too, the deacon is an 
honest man, and will not try to hold what does 
not belong to him.” 

It was decided not to open the box until 


270 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


another day and further investigation had been 
made, so the three returned to those who were 
anxiously awaiting them in the room above. 

The outsiders were not told of the discovery 
that had been made, but the inmates of the house 
listened to the description of the find with un- 
bounded interest. 

Never was morning waited for more eagerly 
than by the party here, and as its first rosy light 
appeared, the harbinger of a fair and a happy 
day. Dr. Menter started for the village, taking 
one of the men with him. In a few hours Sheriff 
Stanyan came, but he brought no terror to the 
members of Ragged Rob ’s young republic. 

He spoke graciously to them, compli- 
mented Rob on his good fortune. 

‘^The ’Squire is pretty badly cut up oyer Phil, 
and well he should be, for he is a bad boy. It 
will take a good slice of the old man’s property 
to settle the matter, but I do not think Phil will 
have to go to jail.” 

With these words the sheriff took away the 
sullen prisoners from the red house, leaving the 
others in easier spirits. 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


271 


Half an hour later Dr. Menter returned ac- 
companied by Deacon Cornliill, who greeted his 
colonists with great affection. 

‘ ^ The light is breaking, ’ ’ he said, gladly, ‘ ^ and 
you are coming out all right, thanks to Rob 
here. ’ ’ 

^^Not more to me than to our friends,” said 
Little Hickory. 

The deacon had aged in appearance more 
than ten years since the others had last seen 
him, and the hearts of all went out to the kind- 
hearted man, who had done so much for them 
and had himself suffered so much. 

But the moment of darkness was already fleet- 
ing, and a new light was coming into their lives. 

The iron-bound box was soon broken into, and 
the over- joyed spectators beheld a sight which 
made them fairly wild with strange visions of 
joy and of mystery. 

It was a treasure box indeed. 

Made up of bank-notes, government bonds, 
gold and silver, it held the equivalent of over 
fifty thousand dollars ! 


272 


BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Is it a wonder that there was dancing and wild 
exclamations'? 

The more sober of the party could not realize 
it as true, while the others did not try to. 

At last, when something like rational feelings 
again held sway, Rob suggested that it belonged 
to Deacon Cornhill, but he would not admit it. 
But there was a happy compromise. 

Little Hickory proposed that a portion go' to 
him, and this under consideration of his diffi- 
culties he accepted with tears in his eyes and 
blessings upon his lips. 

So the hoardings of Timothy Bayne at last 
came to do much good. It cleared Deacon Corn- 
hill from his debts. It placed the members of 
Rob^s young republic all in comfortable circum- 
stances, for it was the wish of him and his father 
and mother that it should be shared among all 
alike. 

What followed can be imagined. 

First of all, Mary Little, and Tom and Jerry 
were restored to home. The prisoners were 
given a trial at which it was shown that one of 
them was the murderer of Timothy Bayne, and 


BREAK 0 ’ DAY BOYS. 


273 


that he had buried the miser^s body in the cellar. 
He had afterwards gained a clue to the treasure 
buried in the cellar near where he had made the 
grave of his victim. He was induced to ac- 
company his companions to dig for the treasure. 
The result is known. He and his pals were the 
ones who had robbed the store and postoffice, 
also the masked men who had tried to rob Rob 
on Flying Jump. They were sentenced as their 
crimes demanded, and the public felt safer. 

Phil Hardy, as Dr. Menter had said, escaped 
the jail. It was evident he had not really in- 
tended to set fire to the mill, and the mill-owner 
was more willing to receive pay for his property 
than to see the boy go to prison. It was a good 
lesson to Phil. Nor was it lost on his father, 
who afterwards treated Rob and his friends as 
they deserved. 

In fact the families of Break o’ Day were now 
looked upon as equals of any others in town. 
Rob knew this came about largely from the fact 
that they were among the richest now, but he did 
not mind that, having resolved to merit the good 
bestowed upon him. 


274 


BEEAK 0’ DAY BOYS. 


Three new houses were built that fall on Break! 
o’ Day, so it was a busy season. They had de- 
cided to live there, though the village people had. 
hoped they would come into town. 

Then followed plans for the future. As ours 
IS a story of to-day these cannot be followed to 
any great extent. Mr. Bayne and his happy 
wife live in a comfortable home, eagerly wait- 
ing to welcome their son home from college, 
while Mrs. Willet, quite recovered from former 
illness, lives with them, waiting, too, for a 
daughter to graduate, when the two young peo- 
ple expect to join their fortunes in married life. 

There will be another marriage at the same 
time, when happy Larry Little will wed sweet 
Lucy Howlitt, and go to her home to live. Larry 
is destined to be a prominent citizen of Basin- 
burg, and the coming Fourth he is to deliver the 
oration at Gainsboro, without having to borrow 
anything from that consummate snob and worth- 
less fellow, Pluto Snyder. 

The other boys and girls of Break o’ Day are 
also finishing their education, for they believe 
in acquiring such knowledge as they can to help 


BREAK 0^ DAY BOYS. 


275 


them in after life. I do not know what their 
plans are, but I do know that Rob intends to 
begin the study of medicine with Dr. Menter, 
and when next I go to Basinburg I expect to find 
him the regular physician there. 

Deacon Cornhill has fully recovered his old- 
time spirits, and happy in the good work that he 
was instrumental in bringing about he is hon- 
ored and respected in Basinburg, and every- 
where he is known, while he never tires of tell- 
ing the story of his visit to ‘Hhe big, wicked city, 
where houses are built edgewise and men live 
under the streets. ’ ’ 

I do not think I have left anything unsaid 
which cannot be readily understood. Of course 
the strange sounds heard at the old house were 
not of a supernatural origin, unless the branch 
of a tree moved by the wind so as to scrape on 
the roof of the dwelling could be called such. 


THE END. 








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